Sisi receives message from Obama on bilateral relations, challenges

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Sunday received a message from US President Barack Obama in which the American leader stressed the importance of promoting Cairo-Washington relations.

US Secretary of State John Kerry handed the message over to the Egyptian president in a meeting held earlier in the day, said Presidential Spokesman Alaa Youssef.

Obama, in the message, affirmed that US and Egypt should enhance relations at all levels to combat challenges facing the two countries as well as the region and the whole world, Youssef added.

The US president expressed his country's readiness to contribute to overall development sought by Egypt and to take part in restoring stability and security in Egypt and the region as well, the spokesman noted.

Kerry described the Egyptian-US Strategic Dialogue as a "very successful," pointing out that his country is keen on continuing dialogue with Egypt to promote the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries.

Egypt has historically played a vital role in the region and in international relations and no doubt it will continue to play this role regionally and globally, Kerry said.

Sisi expressed appreciation for the message to the American President, pointing out that Cairo is keen on bolstering strategic relations with the US, achieving joint interests of the two countries, the presidential spokesman said.

Sisi stressed the importance of joint work in order to achieve development and stability in the Middle Eas and to maintain development and prosperity for peoples of its countries.

On counter-terrorism, Kerry stressed his country's support for Egypt in its fight against terrorism in Sinai or in the region, asserting that Washington is ready to provide assistance to Cairo in this regard.

The top American diplomat praised economic reforms introduced by the Egyptian government to lure more investments and promote the Egyptian economy.

He also congratulated Egypt on the major Suez project ahead of its opening on Thursday, and he announced that US-Egypt trade and investment consultations will be resumed.

During the meeting, Sisi briefed Kerry on several economic reforms and plans that were adopted by Egypt as well as the Egyptian government agenda that includes holding the parliamentary elections by the end of this year, Youssef said.

The Sisi-Kerry meeting also tackled a number of regional issues, notably the Syrian crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli still-unresolved dispute, the spokesman underscored.

Kerry arrived here late Saturday to take part in the Egyptian-American Strategic Dialogue meetings.

The strategic dialogue was last held in 2009 and did not occur in subsequent years due to the Arab Spring and turmoil following the overthrow of Egypt's Hosni Mubarak in 2011.