CAIRO: The leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia met in the Gulf kingdom, officials said Monday, in the first face-to-face discussions between the two men in months as the North African country battles a domestic economic crisis.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, held talks late Sunday that focused on ties between the two Middle Eastern heavyweights, according to Egyptian presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy.
Fahmy said in a statement that the two leaders “affirmed mutual concern for promoting common cooperation in all fields.” They also agreed to continue “coordination and consultation” on regional and international topics, he added.
The statement did not give further details. The surprise visit came as el-Sissi’s government is struggling to overcome an economic crisis blamed on the war in Europe, but also on mismanagement of the economy. –Agencies
