FM delivers message from president Sisi to Japanese PM

CAIRO - 5 October 2018: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has delivered a message from President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on boosting bilateral relations.

Sisi welcomed launching the strategic mechanism between Egypt and Japan, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the foreign minister met with the Japanese prime minister as part of his visit to Tokyo, during which he will hold several meetings with Japanese officials, Hafez added.

Shoukry will also take part in the ministerial meeting of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), according to Hafez.

Shoukry handed over Sisi's message to Abe to congratulate him on his re-election, and invite him to visit Egypt and participate in the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum which is a symbol of the Egyptian-Japanese friendship, Hafez said.

Shoukry reviewed the features of the Egyptian economic transformation, calling on the Japanese government to increase its participation in the Egyptian mega projects.

He voiced Cairo's keenness on coordinating with Tokyo to prepare for the seventh TICAD conference, slated for August, 2019 which is co-chaired by Egypt and Japan.

For his part, the Japanese prime minister conveyed his greetings to president Sisi, praising solid relations between both countries.

Abe confirmed Japan's support for Egypt and its economy under Sisi's leadership.

He invited Sisi to attend the coming 2019 TICAD summit, in light of Egypt's presidency of the African Union.