President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrives in Iraq to participate in the Baghdad Cooperation and Partnership Conference; the Prime Minister of Iraq Mr. Mustafa Al-Kadhimi receives President El-Sisi at Baghdad International Airport (BGW).

President El-Sisi’s participation in the conference is driven by Egypt’s keenness to ensure that the brotherly Iraq takes up its former effective and balanced regional role and to guarantee its security and stability.

Hence, the conference seeks to discuss ways to enhance the constructive dialogue with the aim of establishing partnership, cooperation and economic integration between Iraq and the neighboring and friendly countries.

Sisi meets Prime Minister of Iraq

Sisi thanked Al-Kadhimi for the warm reception and hospitality, expressing his pride in visiting Baghdad again, saying this strengthens the established principles of the Egyptian policy of supporting Iraq.

The presidential spokesman explained that this Egyptian policy aims at maximizing Iraq’s Arab national role, providing full support to the Iraqi people at various levels and helping them to overcome all challenges, especially with regard to the country’s war on terrorism and the restoration of security and stability.

This comes whether within the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism with Jordan or at the bilateral level through the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two brotherly countries based on integration and achieving common development goals, Sisi said.

Sisi stressed the importance of accelerating the process of implementing joint projects between Egypt and Iraq, so that the economic achievements coincide with the political achievements between the two sides.

The spokesman added that the meeting discussed the overall joint bilateral relations, especially the follow-up of the executive position of bilateral cooperation projects in various fields, which seek to invest the capabilities available in the two brotherly countries.

The meeting also followed up on the implementation of projects emanating from the tripartite cooperation mechanism with Jordan, emphasizing the need to build on the outcomes of the last summit in Baghdad last June.

The political and security situation in the region was also reviewed, in addition to the developments of a number of regional issues of common concern, the spokesman said.

Also, the existing joint efforts between the two brotherly countries to combat terrorism and extremist ideology and lay the foundations for security and stability were discussed.

Sisi meets Iraqi President Barham Salih

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi held a meeting with Iraqi President Barham Salih at Baghdad Presidential Palace to discuss bilateral relations and other issues of mutual concern ahead of the start of the Baghdad Conference on Cooperation and Partnership later today in the Iraqi capital.

El-Sisi and Salih reviewed the overall joint bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, as well as ways to enhance areas of economic, commercial and investment cooperation.

The Iraqi president welcomed El-Sisi’s visit to Baghdad, stressing Iraq's keenness to continue intensive coordination and consultation with Egypt at all levels, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.

Salih affirmed that such coordination and consultation comes in light of the deep-rooted relations and ties that bind the two countries together.

It also comes, Salih added, in light of the importance and centrality of the Egyptian role in the region and support for Iraq, which contributes to facing the common challenges that the Arab nation is facing.

From his side, El-Sisi affirmed Egypt's pride in the historical relations with brotherly Iraq, stressing Cairo's keenness to strengthen its Arab national role, the presidential statement said.

El-Sisi also stressed the necessity of providing full support to the Iraqi people in all fields, whether at the bilateral level or within the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism with the Kingdom of Jordan, in support of mutual cooperation relations and the process of joint Arab action.

Sisi meets Emir of Qatar

President El-Sisi met with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the conference, according to Rady.

President Sisi and Qatari Emir agree on the importance of continuing consultation and working to advance relations during the next stage, within the framework of Al Ola Agreement.

Sisi meets Kuwait premier

During a meeting on the sidelines of the Baghdad conference, El-Sisi told Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah that "the security of the Gulf region is one of the main pillars of the Arab national security, and is closely linked to the Egyptian national security."

El-Sisi and Al-Sabah agreed to maintain joint efforts to enhance cooperation and coordination among Arab countries to face the growing challenges and threats to regional security and the stability of Arab countries and peoples, according to Rady.

El-Sisi and Al-Sabah exchanged views on the most prominent files on the regional arena, and the discussions reflected a mutual understanding of ways to deal with these files.

Sisi meets his French counterpart

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, fostering France’s involvement in the Egyptian developmental plans in all fields, as they met in Baghdad.

Their meeting took place while they both participated in a regional summit in the Iraqi capital on Saturday.

Sisi and Macron discussed working to double the French investments in Egypt and advancing the economic cooperation between the Egyptian and French sides, Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Radi said in a statement.

Sisi praised the development in bilateral relations between Egypt and France in all fields, stressing Egypt's aspiration during the coming period to enhance political coordination and exchange views with France on various regional and international issues of common interest.

This includes especially issues of sustainable development and support for peace and security in the region, the spokesperson said.

Sisi also highlighted the need to continue to work closely to advance bilateral relations and maximize the use of the capabilities and opportunities available in the two friendly countries, especially in the transport sector, the manufacture of trains and electric cars, and the renewable energy sector.

Sisi also underlines the importance of benefiting from the French expertise in the national project to develop rural villages in Egypt within the framework of the Haya Karima (Decent Life) initiative.

Sisi also addressed encouraging French companies to take advantage of available investment opportunities, transfer expertise and technology, and localize industry in Egypt, especially in major national projects.

Sisi’s speech at the conference

In his speech at the “Baghdad for Cooperation and Partnership” conference, President Sisi expressed Egypt’s keenness to provide full support for the Iraqi people in all fields, calling for putting an end to the foreign intervention in regional countries’ affairs.

President Sisi affirmed Egypt’s full support for Iraq, within the framework of the tripartite cooperation mechanism with Jordan.

“Baghdad conference is an opportunity for consultation and cooperation to face challenges […] Egypt will continue its support for the Iraqi government in its efforts to achieve stability in the country,” he said.

President Sisi called for putting an end to the foreign interference in the affairs of regional countries and not to provide safe havens for terrorist elements.

“Over the past years, Iraq and other Arab countries have faced quite negative effects of terrorism and wars that brought suffering to this brotherly people and had repercussions for neighboring peoples,” he said.

The president also called for unifying the international efforts to face the threats of coronavirus repercussions and climate change impacts, through adopting real development policies to save better future for generations to come.

Also, President Sisi praised Iraqi people and its army in defeating terrorism and the Islamic State terrorist group.

President Sisi said that addressing the achievements through economic reform at all levels reflects the Iraqi government’s insistence to pave the way for a turning shift for Iraqi people.

“We are sure that Iraq will success in fulfilling the upcoming elections in a way that meets the aspirations of the Iraqi people,” the president said.

Sisi back home after his participation in Baghdad conf.

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi returned home, after his participation in the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.