Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry described as historic the projected visit of Saudi King Salman ben Abdel Aziz to Egypt, saying the visit is a symbol of the special and distinguished relations binding the two countries.

Egypt's relationship with the Saudi kingdom is of special characteristics and no one could ever influence them, he told Okaz newspaper.

The visit of King Salman to Egypt is not late but it is an important visit and so it has to be well prepared for, he said, adding that the agenda of the visit and the agreements that will be signed were being prepared over the past period through the Egyptian-Saudi coordinating council.

This is King Salman's first visit to Egypt since assuming power, he said, adding that the two sides will discuss current challenges and efforts to bring about stability in the region.

Shoukry said the visit is of special importance as it comes amid the turbulence and tremendous challenges besetting the region at the current time, challenges that will not be addressed unless Egypt and Saudi Arabia stand hand in hand.

Egyptian-Saudi relations are strategic and were reinforced under the rule of King Salman and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, he added.

There is no disagreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia over the goals they both seek which requires ongoing coordination and exchange of views on the best ways to achieve these goals.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia complete each other but this does not mean that their viewpoints should be always identical. What is important is to achieve our interests and goals through a distribution of roles, he added.

Saudi Arabia has wide regional and international relations and it is free in running these relations as much as Egypt is, he said.

Egypt doe not intervene in any policy the kingdom deems appropriate to achieve its interest and so is the case for Egypt. We have never seen any Saudi stance that contradicts with Egypt's interests but on the contrary the stance of the two countries always mirrors strategic partnership between them, he said.

He denied any disagreements between the two countries on the common Arab force, saying drafting the protocol regulating this force is a huge work that requires a lot of studies and coordination not only between Egypt and Saudi Arabia but also among all participating members.

"We are moving with well-calculated steps to achieve the goal for which this force was formed, which is protecting regional security and stability and fighting terrorism." 

Source : MENA