New alamein: The sixth session of the Egyptian-Qatari Joint Higher Committee commenced in New Alamein city, chaired by Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty, and Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the Egyptian delegation included Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Social Solidarity Minister Maya Morsy, and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk. The Qatari delegation was represented by Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya.
The Foreign Ministry stated that the meeting signifies the determination of both countries' leaderships to enhance bilateral relations. Abdelatty emphasized a significant shift in relations, especially following President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's visit to Doha in April 2025, marking a new phase of strategic collaboration.
Abdelatty stressed the need for economic integration and translating the current momentum into tangible projects and investments that promote sustainable development. He mentioned Egypt's recent reforms to improve the investment climate, including modernizing investment legislation, introducing tax and customs incentives, and encouraging private sector participation.
The foreign minister expressed optimism for increased Qatari investments in sectors such as transport, logistics, food security, industrial localization, renewable energy, tourism, and urban development. He also highlighted the importance of Qatari involvement in the upcoming Egypt-Gulf Investment Forum in Cairo and proposed the establishment of an Egypt-Qatar business council to foster further investment partnerships.
Discussions also covered regional developments, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories. Abdelatty commended Egypt and Qatar's coordination in seeking a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating humanitarian aid access.
The talks included a ceasefire proposal in Gaza aimed at securing the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, halting Israeli aggression, and ensuring rapid humanitarian aid delivery. Both countries condemned ongoing Israeli aggression and settlement expansion, noting these actions violate international law and destabilize the region.
The session also addressed situations in Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Lebanon, the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Iranian nuclear issue. Abdelatty underscored the importance of joint efforts to address regional challenges, aiming to preserve Arab states' unity and sovereignty while bolstering regional security.
Concluding the talks, the two ministers signed the meeting's minutes and several memoranda of understanding covering cooperation in social insurance, pensions, and food security, along with establishing a mechanism for political consultations between the two foreign ministries.