Pedro Sánchez: "Spain and Egypt today upgrade their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership"

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, greets the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, upon his arrival at Moncloa Palace (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has received the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, at Moncloa Palace on his second official visit to Spain. The two leaders agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship between Spain and Egypt to a Strategic Partnership, through the adoption of a Joint Declaration.

To strengthen cooperation between Spain and Egypt, they also signed a declaration on regional affairs and four Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on economic, commercial, industrial and technical cooperation in the fields of infrastructure and transport, tourism and circular migration.

Meeting between the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Pedro Sánchez pointed out that many Spanish companies are involved in strategic projects promoted by the Egyptian government. He also highlighted the fact that it is one of the main recipients of Spanish official financing, especially in the railway sector, through the Business Internationalisation Fund (FIEM) and the Spanish Export Credit Agency (CESCE). President Sánchez advocated further deepening business and economic collaboration in other strategic sectors such as renewable energies, water management, and security and defence.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Gaza, the president reiterating Spain's categorical rejection of the proposal to transfer the Palestinian population out of the Gaza Strip. "Gaza belongs to the Palestinians and is part of the future Palestinian state," he stressed. He also argued that their expulsion would not only be immoral and contrary to international law and UN resolutions, but would also have a destabilising effect regionally and globally.

Representatives of the Government of Spain meet with the Egyptian delegation | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

"Spain will continue to support a political solution that allows the two-state solution to become a reality", he said. President Sánchez took the opportunity to thank Egypt for its efforts in verifying the implementation of the ceasefire and in the negotiations to move on to the second phase. For his part, President Al-Sisi thanked the Government of Spain for its position on the resolution of the conflict in Gaza.

"It is in these times of uncertainty and challenge that collaboration between partners becomes more necessary than ever," the president stressed.

Non official translation