CAIRO – 14 February 2024: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi bid farewell to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday at Cairo international Airport at the end of his on-day visit to Egypt that came after nearly a decade, to augment the relations between both countries and open ‘new chapter’ that aims to enrich their bilateral ties and set them on the right track.
Official reception ceremony
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to hold extensive talks with his Egyptian counterpart, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The visit is historical as this is Erdogan’s first official visit to the country since 2012, while both countries are striving to improve their ties after a decade of tensions.
Sisi and Egypt’s First Lady Entissar Amer received Erdogan and the Turkish First Lady, Emine Erdoğan, at Cairo International Airport.
An official reception ceremony was then held at Al-Ittihadiya presidential palace upon Erdogan’s arrival to hold talks with Sisi.
Press conference
In a press conference at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on Wednesday, Sisi stressed that Egypt and Turkey are “opening together a new chapter” to enrich their bilateral ties and set them on the right track.
“I affirm our pride and appreciation for the historical relationship with Turkey and the shared cultural and civilizational heritage between us,” Sisi stated.
The Egyptian president noted that he has received an invitation from President Erdogan to visit Turkey next April to continue the efforts made to improve the relations of the two countries in various fields.
Sisi expressed his pride in the level of cooperation between Egypt and Turkey for the rapid access of the largest possible amount of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza amid Israeli restrictions.
Sisi affirmed that these restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza cause aid trucks to enter at a slow pace that is not commensurate with the needs of the Strip.
Moreover, Sisi said he agreed with Erdogan on the need to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and achieve calm in the West Bank to resume the peace process as soon as possible.
He affirmed that the resumption of the peace process should lead to the declaration of a sovereign Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the relevant international resolutions.
On his part, Erdogan thanked the Egyptian Red Crescent for its role in delivering aid to Gaza Strip.
Erdogan stressed Turkey’s opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza Strip and rejection to extending the massacres to Palestine’s Rafah.
During the press conference, Sisi said he agreed with Erdogan on the need to strengthen consultation between Egypt and Turkey on the Libya file to help in holding presidential and legislative elections and unify Libya’s military institution.
“We expect our success in achieving political and security stability in Libya to represent a model to emulate,” Sisi stated.
He added that the countries of the region are better able to understand the complexities of the Libyan file and ways to resolve the existing disputes therein.
The Turkish president, for his part, stated that he had discussed with Sisi the crises of Libya, Somalia and Sudan as well as global affairs of mutual concern.
Regarding economic relations, Sisi stated that Egypt and Turkey together seek to increase their trade exchange to $15 billion over the next few years, boost joint investments, and open new areas of cooperation.
“Egypt is currently Turkey's top trading partner in Africa, and Turkey is one of the most important destinations for Egyptian exports,” the Egyptian president emphasized.
Trade between Egypt and Turkey reached approximately $5.875 billion in 2023, according to data from the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Sisi welcomed the current calm in the Eastern Mediterranean region, saying he looks forward to building on it to resolve the existing differences between the riparian countries in the region.
“This will enable all of us to cooperate and make the most of the natural resources available there,” Sisi stated.
Sisi said he and Erdogan also stressed their common interest in cooperating in Africa, supporting the continent’s development efforts, and achieving stability and prosperity.
First lady tour with Turkish counterpart
Egypt’s first lady Intisar El-Sisi welcomed Turkish counterpart Emine Erdoğan, who is accompanying Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his current visit to Egypt.
On her social media accounts, the first lady wrote: “I welcome Egypt’s dear guest, Emine Erdoğan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I was honored to meet her in Egypt. Our meeting and conversation were full of discussions on issues of community protection and initiatives related to aid and the Egyptian efforts made in this regard. We took a tour during which we inspected ‘Haya Karima’ operations room and the Egyptian Red Crescent to review the work progress.
A precious visit from the Turkish First Lady to Egypt. I look forward to enhancing ways of cooperation between our countries in various fields.”
Egypt's First Lady Entissar El Sisi, accompanied by the wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, paid a visit to the headquarters of the Egyptian Red Crescent on Wednesday.
The two spouses checked on the central operations room of Decent Life Initiative
They also inspected the Palestine Support Centers which provide relief aid to the Palestinians.
They listened to an explanation about the role played the Egyptian Red Crescent to support the residents of Gaza since the start of the Israeli aggression.
About 210,000 tons of humanitarian aid have since been delivered to Gaza whether through air, sea or land.
The first ladies also visited an operation room that was inaugurated in 2019 as part of the “Decent Life” presidential initiative. Social Solidarity Minister Nevine Qabbaj made a detailed explanation about the room, which is equipped with advanced wired and wireless apparatuses, and is permanently connected with relief teams across Egypt.
A documentary was then played showing operations conducted by the “Decent Life” foundation and the Egyptian Red Crescent to provide relief aid to Gazans.
A live footage from the operations room of the “Decent Life” foundation at Rafah Crossing showed the aid convoys as they lined up there minute by minute. Over the past 24 hours, 600 trucks full of relief aid arrived at the border terminal with Gaza.
Visit to Al-Imam Al-Shafii Mosque
By the end of the visit, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited, Al Imam Al-Shafii Mosque in Cairo.
Turkish President Erdogan expressed his happiness to visit Cairo’s historical and Islamic landmarks, stressing his great pride with the ancient civilization of the Egyptian people.
President Sisi then bid farewell to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Cairo international Airport.
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