President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has met with Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Minister of Higher Education El Sayed Abdel Khaleq attending.

Bokova praised Egypt's role in the Arab and Islamic regions, presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef said.

UNESCO is keen on cooperation with Egypt that dates back to the 1960s when UNESCO helped in the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, Southern Egypt.

Bokova will attend an international conference organized by the Egyptian government on confrontation of smuggling antiquities in the Middle East.

Sisi thanked UNESCO chief for helping in restoration of the Islamic Art Museum damaged artefacts after the terror attack in January 2014.