Saudi Gazette report
Riyadh — Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi will discuss on Sunday a number of regional and international issues of concern including the situation in Yemen, Syria and Libya.
Combating terrorism and extremist organizations as well as efforts to counter Iranian meddling in the affairs of the region’s countries will also figure in the talks between the Egyptian president and the Crown Prince during the latter’s three-day official visit to Egypt.
A number of agreements and memoranda of understanding in the investment fields will be signed during the visit of the Crown Prince, according to reliable Egyptian sources.
“The Cairo-Riyadh ties have witnessed tangible progress on the economic and investment fields,” said Chairman of the Egyptian side in the Saudi-Egyptian Business Council Abdul Hameed Abu Mousa.
The visit is an opportunity to discuss trade exchange between the two countries, he said, adding that Saudi Arabia tops the list of Arab investments in Egypt with a total investment of $27 billion in 2,900 projects in the production and services sectors.
Egypt is part of a Saudi-led military coalition which intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to fight Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt are also part of a bloc of nations that has boycotted Qatar since June over ties to extremists and Iran.
A source said the Prince Muhammad’s choice of Egypt for his maiden overseas trip as crown prince “reaffirms Saudi-Egyptian cooperation at the highest level”.
Crown Prince Muhammad’s visit to Cairo comes ahead of a scheduled trip to Britain on Wednesday for talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and the United States from March 19-22.
The Crown Prince is also expected to visit France in the coming weeks.
The British government said Crown Prince Muhammad’s visit will help enhance cooperation in tackling challenges such as “terrorism and extremism.”
The Crown Prince’s visit to the United States in late March could include multiple cities.
US President Donald Trump hosted Crown Prince Muhammad in March 2017, just weeks after taking office, and he chose Saudi Arabia for his first official overseas visit as president.
