Cairo - MENA
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has said that he delivered a message from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to his French counterpart Francois Hollande that tackled bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest including regional and international ones.
France is keen on furthering relations with Egypt, especially economic ones and is really understanding of all challenges besetting the country, Shoukry told MENA correspondent here.
He said that his meeting with French President Hollande yesterday covered economic, political and legislative reforms taken by the government to set up a modern and democratic state.
"We also discussed challenges facing Egypt at the time being, especially terrorism and Hollande expressed desire to help Egypt face terrorism, Shoukry said.
Hollande expressed condolences to the families of the 11 policemen who were killed by terrorists in Sinai on Tuesday, expressing readiness to boost police and army capabilities in face of terrorism.
The French leader lauded Egypt's efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, sponsor Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and lay down a framework to discard terrorism and violence in Libya, Shoukry said.
Talks also covered the troubled situation in the Middle East, the Syrian file and unrest in Libya.
Shoukry said he also met with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius and 20 heads of giant French companies on investment opportunities in Egypt.
Shoukry arrived in Paris on Monday as part of his European tour, his first since assuming post. Italy will be his last leg.