Egypt’s FM receives Saudi counterpart ahead of political consultation meeting

CAIRO – 16 December 2021: Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received on Thursday his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in the headquarters of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in Cairo.

Their meeting comes in preparation for holding the meeting of the political consultation and follow-up commission between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, a statement by the Egyptian ministry read.

During the meeting, they are scheduled to discuss urgent regional and international issues and the positions of the two countries concerning threats to security and stability in the region.

They will also discuss ways of continuing to enhance bilateral cooperation frameworks between the two countries within the framework of strategic relations linking the two countries, the statement added.

وزير الخارجية #سامح_شكري يستقبل الآن وزير الخارجية السعودي الأمير #فيصل_بن_فرحان بمقر وزارة الخارجية، تمهيدًا لانعقاد اجتماع لجنة المتابعة والتشاور السياسي بين جمهورية مصر العربية والمملكة العربية السعودية. pic.twitter.com/Gavoj8NdK8

— Egypt MFA Spokesperson (@MfaEgypt) December 16, 2021

Shoukry took part on Sunday evening in the launching of the Political Consultation Mechanism between Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh.

In his speech, Shoukry affirmed the distinctiveness of the ties between Egypt and the Arab Gulf countries on different levels.

He equally underscored the importance of building on this in a way that fulfills the various interests of all parties, and the aspirations of their peoples’ achieving prosperity and welfare.

The statement issued by the ministry indicates that the chief of Egyptian diplomacy showcased growing developments on the regional and international scales, which give a rising need to expand joint Arab work as well as maintain the periodicity of institutional coordination and consultation among Arab states.

The minister further underlined the fundamentals of Egypt's foreign policy emphasizing the reinforcement of Arab solidarity and joint Arab work with the aim of preserving Arab national security, capitalizing on the capabilities and capacities of the Arab countries.

Shoukry also noted that Egypt's rejection to all attempts of interference with the internal affairs of Arab states, and to all threats targeted at their stability and interests of their peoples. He equally stressed Egypt's backing to Gulf countries in taking the measures they perceive suitable to conserve their security and guarantee their stability.

On their side, the foreign ministers of Gulf states expressed appreciation for the Egyptian pivotal role in the Arab security and stability, and support to the steps it makes to maintain its security, including water rights.