All issues will be negotiated by Sisi, Putin: Bassam Rady

CAIRO – 17 October 2018: The trade volume between Egypt and Russia reached $7 billion, according to presidency spokesperson Ambassador Bassam Rady on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

He said during an interview with Russian-owned channel RT that this volume reflects the strong relations between the two countries.

During the interview, Rady highlighted the Egyptian-Russian cooperation, affirming that the two countries are currently working on several joint projects, including Dabaa nuclear power plant and the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal axis.

Rady also stated that the number of Russian tourists in Egypt did not decline during the past period and that the Egyptian- Russian negotiations on tourism are constant.

“All issues will be on the negation table between Sisi and Putin during their ninth meeting in Sochi on October 17,” Rady said.

He affirmed that Egypt has its well-known political stances regarding conflicts in the region’s countries. “In Syria, Egypt is against any solution that would cause the division of the country. We stand with the government and army to reach a political solution suitable for all of the political factions,” Rady added.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi headed to Moscow on Monday, Oct. 15 on a three-day visit to hold talks with President Putin.

During the visit, Putin issued a decree approving to sign a comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation agreement with Egypt including all levels.

The decree includes endorsing proposals on the agreement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that are set in collaboration with executive authority institutions. The decree was published on the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI).

On December 11, 2017, Putin visited Egypt for the second time since Sisi was sworn into office in May 2014; the visit came upon President Sisi's invitation in September 2017.

In February 2015, the Russian president visited Egypt and attended the signature of a number of deals between Cairo and Moscow.