Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on Monday asserted that Egypt plays a pivotal role in achieving security and stability in the Middle East region.
In a joint press conference held in Lisbon with visiting President Abdel Fatah al Sisi on Monday, de Sousa said that Portugal and Egypt are interested in boosting peacemaking in the Middle East region.
Egypt’s peace and security have direct impact on the stability of Europe and the Mediterranean region, he added.
For his part, Sisi said that that the Egyptian leadership appreciates Portugal’s balanced stance towards the transition process in Egypt following the 2013 ouster of President Mohamed Morsi.
Sisi also stressed Egypt’s keenness on promoting relations with the European Union countries, notably Portugal.
The two leaders held joint meeting on Monday that tackled several challenges facing the two countries, including the economy, social justice and human rights.
Portugal and Egypt share viewpoints regarding different issues, de Sousa said.
Sisi’s visit to Portugal is the first of its kind by an Egyptian president in the past two decades.
