Portugal affirms keenness to enhance cooperation with Egypt in Africa

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Friday - 17 February 2023

CAIRO – 17 February 2023: Portugal’s Foreign Minister João Cravinho affirmed his country’s keenness to enhance trilateral cooperation with Egypt in Africa, especially in the fields of health, education, and irrigation, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Cravinho made the remarks in a meeting on Thursday with Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) held from 15-16 February.

Cravinho said the enhancement of cooperation with Egypt in Africa should come through the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) and the Portuguese Institute for Cooperation and Language (Camões).

The Portuguese foreign minister affirmed the presence of broad horizons for this cooperation with the African partners in light of the two countries’ expertise and their strong traditional presence in the African continent.

During the meeting, Shoukry and Cravinho agreed on the importance of maintaining permanent channels for dialogue between the European and African continents.

The ministers discussed files of bilateral relations and means of boosting these relations in light of the special relations between Egypt and Portugal.

They welcomed intensifying political consultation mechanisms between the two sides by boosting the pace of mutual visits at all levels.

They also welcomed holding the second round of the Egyptian-Portuguese joint committee under the chairmanship of the two countries’ foreign ministers and enhancing their economic cooperation.

Shoukry headed to Addis Ababa on Tuesday to attend the 42nd Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council held on the level of the foreign ministers, where he held bilateral talks with his foreign counterparts.

This comes ahead of the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly at the level of heads of state and government that will be held on 18-19 February under the theme “The Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.”