CAIRO/TUNIS, April 18 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty lauded the recent progress in relations between Egypt and Tunisia.

Abdelatty made the remarks during his talks on Friday with Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti in Tunis.

The top Egyptian diplomat commended the outcome of the sixth session of the Joint Trade and Industrial Committee, which will assist in advancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries and achieving their mutual benefit.

Abdelatty underlined the importance of benefiting from the existing cooperation frameworks between the two countries and continuing the regular convocation of joint bilateral committees, most notably the Political Consultation Committee at the level of foreign ministers, as well as exploring opportunities for trilateral cooperation in Africa.

He affirmed Egypt's keenness to promote cooperation with Tunisia in various areas and sustain joint coordination and cooperation within the framework of different regional and international forums to bring about their joint interests.

Meanwhile, the two ministers mulled the successive developments in the Middle East, as they exchanged views on the most prominent Arab issues, notably the Palestinian issue.

In this regard, Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's efforts to resume the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, which leads to calming the situation and allowing the access of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.

The two sides also tackled the Arab-Islamic plan for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, which ensures the Palestinians remain on their homeland.

The two ministers took up the situation in Libya, where they agreed on the necessity of supporting the Libyan-Libyan solution without external dictates or interference, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, thus contributing to the restoration of security and stability in the country.

Abdelatty and Nafti agreed to continue joint coordination, given Egypt and Tunisia are neighbors of Libya and are directly affected by the situation in the Arab country.

They also talked about the updates in Syria, Sudan and the Sahel region, stressing the need to foster joint cooperation in countering illegal immigration and terrorism.

Abdelatty praised Tunisia's supportive position for Egypt to preserve the Egyptian water security, as well as the existing cooperation between the two states in exchanging nominations at various regional and international forums. (MENA)

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