Within the framework of the multiple aspects of development of Egypt-Russia Relations, that included the fields of economy, industry, commercial exchange and tourism, Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) emphasized during the meeting held with the Russian parliamentary delegation, during its visit to the Council, the importance of starting its activity in the Russian Industrial Zone in East Port Said. This could be Particularly put in place in parallel with Moscow’s interest to promote its relations with the African continent along with the first Russian-African summit in Sochi, co-chaired by Presidents of the two countries, for cementing the relations between Russia and Africa.
Within the diversity of the fields of cooperation, the two parties demonstrated their readiness to organize cultural and civilizational cooperation events considering 2020 to be the year for Egyptian culture in Russia, and Russian culture in Egypt.
These ideas were presented during the visit of Russian delegation to the Council on July 16, 2019. The council was visited by a delegation of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (The upper house of parliament), headed by Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of Egyptian-Russian Parliamentary Friendship Association, Mr. Farit Mukhametshin. The delegation included: Deputy chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets, Mr. Andrei Yepishin; Member of the Federation Council Committee on Agriculture and Food Policy and Environmental Management, Mr. Ivan Kulabukhov; Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Mr. Paveler Moshin; Member of The Group of Strategic Vision “Russia – Islamic World,” Mr. Irek Shamhunov; and Second Sectretary at the Embassy of Russia in Cairo, Mr. Nikolai Liagoshin.
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Cairo has been arranging that meeting, upon the request of Mr. Mukhametshin, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chair of The Group of strategic Vision “Russia-Islamic World” whose members include Ambassador Ezzat Saad, Director of the Council. During the delegation’s visit to Cairo, meetings were held with Chairman and members of the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee; Head of the Egyptian-Russian Parliamentary Friendship Association and the Egyptian-Russian Business Council whose members include Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad, Director of the Council; and Cairo University President.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Dr. Mounir Zahran, Chairman of the Council; Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad, Director of the Council; and Dr. Moustafa Khalil, businessman and member of the Egyptian-Russian Business Council (at the invitation of the Director of the Council).
The importance of restoring Russian tourism to Egypt, albeit gradually, was stressed upon during the meeting, owing to its significance for enhancing cultural ties and connections between the people of the two countries.
The talks addressed situations in the region, including the USA foreign policy centered on Iran, as well as the significance of the development of the relations with Russia and China.
In response to an inquiry from the Russian side, the council asserted that it is planning to invite its Russian counterpart for foreign affairs, to hold a further round of consultations soon in
Cairo.
