MPs praise Sisi’s visit to Austria, says good opportunity for boosting relations

CAIRO – 17 December 2018: Egypt parliament members have praised President Abdel Fatah al Sisi four-day visit to Austria which started on Sunday night.

Moustafa el Gendi, head of the Parliamentary Grouping of North African states, stressed that Sisi's expected participation in the Africa-Europe forum in Vienna would achieve gains for the black continent.

In a Monday statement, Gendi underlined the importance of Sisi's current visit to Austria, saying it is a good opportunity for boosting cooperation between the two countries in the various domains, especially the economic one.

Sisi's participation in the forum comes at an important timing as Egypt is going to take over the presidency of the African Union in 2019, he said.

The high-level Africa-Europe Forum is co-hosted by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

A host of African and European leaders are taking part in the event aiming at enhancing African-European partnership.

Participants in the forum will hold a high-level dialogue under the title of "Taking Cooperation to the Digital Age".

Parliamentarian Ryad abdel Sattar, Also told Egypt Today that Sisi’s visit to Austria confirms Egypt vital role in the region. He added that the visit will have positive results on many levels, praising Sisi’s latest official visits.

Sisi arrived at Hofburg presidential palace in Vienna on Monday morning, where he will hold talks with Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen.

During Sisi’s four-day visit to the Austrian capital, he is expected to head to the Federal Chancellery of Austria to be received by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, where both diplomats are set to witness the signing of cooperation memorandums between the two countries.

The Egyptian President is also scheduled to hold a press conference with the Kurz, followed by a meeting with the Spegyaker of Austria's National Council Wolfgang Sobotka, to discuss strengthening relations between the peoples of the two countries.
Dozens of Egyptians living in Austria gathered on Sunday in front of the Sisi’s residence in Vienna.

The purpose of the visit is the participation in the Africa-Europe Forum summit, co-hosted by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

President Sisi will deliver a speech on Egypt's vision to push forward development efforts in Africa since the country will chair the African Union (AU) in 2019.

Regarding bilateral relations between Egypt and Austria, the president's visit will include meetings with a number of politicians, senior officials and investors on furthering cooperation in trade, educational and scientific research, transport and investment domains.

A host of African and European leaders are to take part in the event aiming at enhancing African-European partnership.

Looking into Egyptian-Austrian relations

CAIRO - 17 December 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi's first visit to Austria from December 16 to 20 highlights the distinct Egyptian-Austrian relations, which have been strengthened in the past years on different levels including politics and economics. President Sisi headed on Dec.

Additional reporting by MENA