Ashraf AboArafe
Dr. Abdel Aati:
⁃ The concept of looking forward requires working towards developing all aspects of cooperation and further facilitation by all available means for citizens of the two countries, including seeking to achieve facilitation from both sides in movement and visas.
⁃ Cancelling the prior visas applied to Canadian citizens to travel to Egypt, with an official announcement to be made soon.
⁃ Egypt’s pride in the achievements made by Egyptians residing on Canadian territory, which are a source of pride for their motherland.
During his intensive meetings within the ongoing activities of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, Mr. Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, met with Canadian Foreign Minister Ms. Melanie Joly today, September 23.
The meeting witnessed an emphasis on the strong bilateral relations witnessed by the two countries as they celebrate this year the 70th anniversary of relations. Discussions were held on ways to enhance cooperation ties at all levels and in all aspects, most notably advancing more activities to enhance economic cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and peoples, including continuing to support the growth of trade exchange. In addition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed the efforts of the Egyptian state in the field of economic reform, stressing the importance of encouraging Canadian investments to seize promising opportunities amid the Egyptian economic climate and the structural measures taken by Egypt that are internationally recognized, in addition to investment incentives. The discussion touched on the agreement of the Egyptian and Canadian foreign ministers to seek to inject more positive momentum into relations and push them to broader horizons, and to work to continue enhancing the amount of cooperation and coordination in the various bilateral fields. The two ministers agreed that the promising and potential opportunities in Egyptian-Canadian relations require upgrading them, which represents an incentive for the two sides to contribute together to facilitating many issues on the bilateral level, including facilitating the movement of mutual trade, the flow of tourism, and more scientific cooperation between universities. In this context, the two ministers were interested in discussing the study of working to cancel the prior visas currently applied to Canadian citizens to travel to Egypt, which Minister Dr. Abdel Aati welcomed and responded to, and that it will be officially announced soon; This is an initiative appreciated by Foreign Minister Joly within the framework of relations between the two countries and moving forward towards strengthening them. The Foreign Minister was keen to emphasize that the concept of looking forward requires working towards building on the common desire to develop all aspects of cooperation and working towards further facilitation by all available means for the citizens of the two countries, including Egyptian-Canadian citizens, and linking them to their motherland, Egypt, while continuing to work to overcome any obstacles of any kind. The two ministers discussed the importance of both sides making efforts to facilitate movement and visas for citizens of both countries, in order to enhance travel, trade and tourism.
The meeting also discussed the mutual appreciation of the two ministers for the Egyptian component in the Canadian fabric, with the valuable contributions of Egyptians over decades in the scientific, economic and cultural fields. Minister Abdel Aati stressed Egypt’s pride in the achievements of Egyptians residing in Canada, which are a source of pride for their homeland, and a motive to continue supporting and caring for Egyptian citizens in all ways wherever they are.
The meeting also witnessed discussions on regional developments and international issues of common interest and related challenges, as Foreign Minister Jolie was interested in listening to Minister Dr. Abdel Aati’s presentation on the Egyptian position on the overall situation in the region, most notably the ongoing Israeli war on the Palestinian territories in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; The Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed the strenuous, sincere and motivating Egyptian efforts towards an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and a rapid end to the occupation, in addition to the full access to humanitarian aid and working to establish the Palestinian state on its entire national territory. A number of crises were also discussed, including those in Sudan and the unjustified escalation against Lebanon.
