The foreign minister and his South African counterpart discuss strengthening cooperation and coordination within BRICS.
Intensifying cooperation between Egyptian and South African companies
Written by: Mohammed Omran
Dr. Badr Abdel-Aati met Foreign Minister The Ministry of International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad met today with Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange views on issues of common interest.
The foreign minister and his South African counterpart discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations.
Minister Abdel-Aty praised the growing momentum, highlighting the interest in strengthening economic relations between the two countries and development projects in the fields of energy and transportation, noting the need to activate the Egyptian-South African Business Council to be an important engine for cooperation between the two countries.
He also stressed the need to intensify cooperation between Egyptian and South African companies to enhance trade and implement joint projects.
The Foreign Minister pointed to the ongoing preparations for the El Alamein Africa Forum, scheduled to be held in El Alamein next June on the sidelines of the African Union’s mid-year coordination summit, expressing his hope for the participation of major South African companies in this forum, which will witness meetings between African companies, with financing institutions and officials of participating countries.
Regarding current regional developments, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of continuing coordination and ongoing consultation with member states on various regional and international issues of common interest, whether in the African continent or the Middle East region, stressing the importance of maintaining the unity and cohesion of BRICS and sparing it any negative repercussions resulting from regional crises, in order to ensure the continued space necessary to advance the common goals of the grouping and enhance its role as a platform for economic and developmental cooperation among its member states.
International Relations and Cooperation in the Republic of South Africa
Regarding developments in the Palestinian issue, Minister Abdel-Aati praised South Africa’s position in support of Palestinian rights, stressing the importance of completing the implementation of the requirements of the second phase of the US President’s plan, and the need for the flow of humanitarian, relief and medical aid without restrictions, in order to alleviate the human suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people.
In the same context, the two ministers exchanged views on ways to enhance peace, security, and development in the African continent, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the situation in Sudan. They agreed to continue coordination between their countries in regional and international forums to achieve common interests and the aspirations of their two brotherly peoples.
