Egypt and Serbia agreed on Wednesday to strengthen political, economic and other cooperation as the two countries seek tactics to deal with the global effect of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in Serbia for a 3-day stopover this week, the first in more than 3 decades through an Egyptian president. Its host, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, said the scale had a “historical character. “.
“It will bring a lot to the future,” Vucic told a joint news conference with Sisi. “This is the beginning. “
The two leaders signed a partnership statement, Vucic granted el-Sisi a state ornament and announced plans for a flexible industrial agreement until the end of the year. A business forum was held in which officials signed a series of agreements focused on cooperation spaces.
“Our two countries cooperate to achieve greater economies in relation to global events,” el-Sisi said. “Egypt looks forward to stronger cooperation in all areas. “
Vucic said Serbia will export grains, basically wheat, to Egypt, which has been hit hard by increases in value caused by the war in Ukraine. Egypt is one of the world’s largest importers of wheat, much of which comes from now-blockaded Ukrainian ports.
Serbia, a candidate country for EU membership, has refused to sign Western sanctions against Russia and has maintained friendly relations with Moscow despite the war. The two leaders said the war in Ukraine was one of the issues discussed at their assembly on Wednesday.
“Egypt is a country that everything was resolved peacefully and through agreements,” said el-Sisi, who met with U. S. President Joe Biden in Saudi Arabia last week.
El-Sisi and Vucic spoke at their press conference about the decades-long ties between Belgrade and Cairo as founding members of the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations Outside opposing Blocs at the time of Cold War divisions.
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