Radio France International highlights Macron's visit to Egypt

PARIS, Jan 27 (MENA) - Radio France International (RFI) highlighted a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Egypt despite Yellow vest movement protests.

Macron is due to start his visit later Sunday with the accompaniment of his wife and a number of ministers, including the ministers of defense, foreign affairs and culture.

The radio said the visit falls within the framework of the strategic ties binding the two countries, highlighting that Egypt is a key diplomatic and strategic partner to France, especially as the Arab state is due to assume the presidency of the African Union by the beginning of February.

Macron is scheduled to visit Abu Simbel city in Upper Egypt.

The visit comes in a critical times as France’s Yellow Vest movement is hoping to keep the heat on President Emmanuel Macron with calls for demonstrations to continue into the night for the 11th weekend of nationwide protests.

Also, the Chief of the Arab World Institute in Paris Jack Lang has hailed French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit to Egypt.

In an interview with MENA ahead of the visit, Lang said Egypt is the largest Arab country with which Paris has relations and cooperation.

The French veteran politician will be a member of the delegation accompanying Macron during the visit, the French president's first since he assumed office.

He lauded the bilateral ties, saying they witnessed fresh momentum over the past four years in all fields.

The delegation will comprise writers and intellectuals as 2019 has been named the Egypt-France culture year, said Lang.

The year is a chance for showing the cultural
ties between the two countries, he noted, citing key events organized by his body on the Egyptian-French relations.