Morsi prepares for trip to US

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is set to make his first trip to the United States to discuss a promised $450 million economic aid package, officials said. Dates for Morsi's visit have not been confirmed, but Cairo and Washington are currently reviewing the schedules of Morsi and Obama to prepare, Ahram Online reported Sunday. Egyptian ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Tawfik, said Morsi will pursue the immediate processing of the aid package while he is in the United States. The package was promised in the first quarter of 2011. "The transfer of an aid package of $450 million is a priority that we are currently working on; this is the first installment of a wider aid package that the U.S. has promised," Tawfik said. The ambassador added that Egypt is also keen on strengthening its "strategic relations" with the United States, adding that the recent re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama could "help keep a good pace for the upgrading of relations between the two countries." "Ultimately Egypt and the U.S. do have strategic ties and ultimately it is in the interest of the U.S. as a world power and Egypt as the central Arab state to pursue cooperation on issues of common interest; but certainly continuity is useful at this point in time," said Tawfik.