Cairo: Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt has received wide interest from various Egyptian circles, stressing the importance of the visit that came at the invitation of President H E Abdel Fattah El Sisi. The visit is being considered as a strong starting point for bilateral relations and the joint Arab action process, especially in light of the current regional and international challenges.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Mohamed Al Orabi said that the H H the Amir’s visit to Egypt is not just a visit between two countries or a meeting between two leaders, but rather it will lay the foundations for a new strategy in facing the current challenges. He added that it will have a positive impact on joint Arab action.
He explained that Qatar has a great international prestige as a result of a realistic policy based on the idea of trying to solve problems by peaceful means, which was evident in the Afghan crisis.
He pointed out that the H H the Amir’s visit to Egypt has another important sign, as it comes at a pivotal stage that will have its aftermath in the relations between Doha and Cairo, adding that it demonstrates in practice a new stage in which relations are moving to the point of a strategic alignment.
He added that there are complex international circumstances that require Arab countries to unite and stand united, which is reflected in the mutual interest between the two brotherly countries to enhance joint cooperation in this regard.
The former Egyptian foreign minister noted that the visit is also of paramount importance, as it comes before the summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States of America hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Therefore, the talks of the two leaders aim to crystallise common visions on the issues that will be raised in that upcoming summit. In a statement to QNA, Chairman of the Foreign, Arab and African Affairs Committee of the Egyptian Senate Effat El Sadat underlined that the big official reception of President H E Abdel Fattah El Sisi to H H the Amir reflects Egypt’s love and appreciation for the H H the Amir, government, and people of Qatar.
He said that H H the Amir’s visit to Egypt came within the framework of mutual appreciation between the two countries, whether at the governmental or popular levels, noting that it also came in the context of balanced political consensus and continued dialogue with the brothers in Qatar throughout the past periods to restore relations to normal.
Concerning economic cooperation relations, El Sadat said that Egypt is a promising market for Qatari investment opportunities, and in light of the economic conditions that the world is going through, Qatar gives its priorities to investing in Egypt, which reflects the appreciation of Qatar for Egypt.
On the Arab level, El Sadat stressed that the Arabs have a common destiny and that Egyptian-Qatari relations will have a positive impact on the Arab region in general, and on the Gulf region in particular, due to the political and geographical position of both countries.
In the same context, member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, and former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmed Hassan Rakha told QNA that H H the Amir’s visit aims to restore Arab unity, which is crucial, especially in light of the challenges facing the Arab world, whether in the Gulf region or in the Mediterranean.
On economic cooperation, Rakha remarked the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to Egypt in March, pointing out that this visit witnessed an agreement on a sizable investment in various fields, which is a positive indication for further fruitful cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
Speaking to QNA, the Advisor to the Al Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies Gamal Abdel Gawad confirmed that H H the Amir’s visit is evidence that the relations between the two countries are entering a new phase based on cooperation in many fields, which is certainly founded on a great political and strategic understanding.
