CAIRO, April 3 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty said on Thursday the Foreign Ministry is the first line of defense for Egyptian interests abroad.

All ministry members should uphold the highest levels of professionalism and exert more efforts to address the latest developments regionally and worldwide that could affect the Egyptian interests directly, he said at a meeting with members of the diplomatic and consular corps on Thursday.

The meeting provided an important opportunity for probing the ministry's action priorities in the coming period and getting acquainted with their opinions and proposals regarding the development of work mechanisms.

Abdelatty tackled the most important developments on the regional and international arena, saying the consecutive and exceptional developments taking place regionally and worldwide require the continuation of coordination among all sectors, embassies and Egyptian missions abroad.

He urged the members of the ministry to prioritize the concerns and interests of Egyptian citizens.

He referred to the developmental dimension of the diplomatic action, saying it directly impacts the interests of Egyptian nationals, which, he added, necessitates the promotion of economic, investment and trade ties with host countries.

The foreign minister underscored the necessity of fostering cultural ties with host countries, saying Egypt's soft power has an important role in promoting the country’s rich history and civilization and defending its foreign interests. (MENA)
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