Sisi to exchange views with Trump administration

The current visit of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to the US aims at exchanging viewpoints with the new administration over the political and economic developments in Egypt, said presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef in statements to reporters late on Saturday.

Sisi will also exchange views with the Trump administration on current conflicts in the Middle East, the spokesman said.

The visit, Sisi's first under the Trump administration, comes as part of long-standing distinguished partnership between the two countries.

US-Egyptian relations have always played a key role in supporting peace and stability in the Middle East, he added.

In addition to his meetings with the Trump administration officials, President Sisi will also meet with US congressmen, businessmen and representatives of major US companies.

President Sisi will also meet with officials of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to follow up what has been achieved so far as regards the economic reform program the Egyptian government has started since November, 2016.

The visit is of high importance as it comes in light of growing challenges the Mideast region is experiencing, especially that of terrorism, the spokesman said.

The visit will provide a good chance to brief the US officials on Egypt's vision to face terrorism that has become a phenomenon that should be addressed through international efforts and overall strategy that is not only confined to security and military ways but should also cover economic, social, religious and cultural aspects as well. 
The spokesman for the Egyptian presidency said Sisi's visit is a good chance to update the US officials on the true situation in Egypt and answer their remarks in this regard.

Meetings with the US officials will also tackle the controversial issue of transferring the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the Egyptian stance towards this issue.

Regional issues and Egypt's support of reaching political settlements to current conflicts in the region will also figure high on Sisi's talks in Washington, spokesman Youssef said.

On Sunday, Sisi will meet with representatives of the Egyptian community in the US, president of the World Bank and officials of two major US companies.

Egypt seeks to increase trade exchange with the US, the spokesman said, noting that American investments in Egypt represent 33 percent of the total US investments in the African continent. 

Meanwhile, the spokesman said the Palestinian issue will always remain on the top of the Egyptian foreign policy, stressing that Egypt has never spared any effort to back reaching a just and comprehensive settlement that helps set up an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Source: MENA