Palestinian PM to visit Egypt Monday heading big delegation

CAIRO – 6 October 2019: Palestine's Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh will pay Egypt a visit on Monday, heading a big ministerial delegation, at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouli, said Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh.

The ministerial delegation visiting Egypt will be the largest in the history of the relationship between the two countries, Louh said.

This planned visit comes as a reflection of the strategic and fraternal relationship between Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in light of the continuous and permanent coordination between the two leaders in all central and political issues, Louh added.

Shtayyeh's acceptance of the invitation of Madbouli to form a high-level delegation comprising 12 ministerial portfolios demonstrates the former's keenness to build bridges of political and executive cooperation between the two countries and to bring these links to the highest levels of coordination.

The ministers comprising the delegation include the ministers of foreign affairs, finance, national economy, higher education, public works and housing, health, agriculture, local government, transportation, and telecom and information technology. The ministries of interior and endowments, which are headed by the prime minister, will be also represented in the delegation.

Prime Minister Shtayyeh said on September 30 that a ministerial delegation is visiting Cairo to promote economic cooperation under the guidance of the Palestinian president.

In September 2019, President Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness on the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state, in accordance with the international accords.

Sisi met with Abbas, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said, on the sidelines of the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

For his part, Abbas expressed his appreciation for Egypt's efforts and historic unchangeable stance towards the Palestinian cause, highlighting the depth of relations between the peoples of the two countries.

Abbas also praised the Egyptian efforts to achieve reconciliation between Palestinian factions, affirming willingness to continue the coordination with Egypt on various issues of mutual concern, Radi said.

The presidents also discussed the developments of a number of regional and Arab issues.