Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Monday with Italy s Parliament Speaker Roberto Fico bilateral relations, efforts against illegal migration, and developments in the investigation into the murder of Italian student Guilio Regini, a statement by the Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady read.
During the meeting, which was attended by Egyptian Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal and the Italian Ambassador to Cairo Giampaolo Cantini, El-Sisi reiterated Egypt s desire to intensify cooperation with Italy on parliamentary issues and across various fields.
Rady said that Fico s visit to Cairo is the fourth visit by high-level Italian officials to Egypt in less than two months.
Fico stressed the importance of the historical relationship between Egypt and Italy, pointing out to the growth in cooperation between the two countries across economic and trade fields over the recent period.
Italy is one of Egypt s most important trading partners in the European Union, with Italian firms, including the energy giant Eni, making key investments in the country.
Rady said that the president and the Italian parliament speaker also discussed efforts against illegal migration.
The president said Egypt has demonstrated that it is a credible, pioneering partner in the fight against illegal migration, pointing out that Cairo has taken many economic and legislative steps on this issue since 2016.
El-Sisi and Fico also discussed the crises in Libya and Syria, and cooperation in combating terrorism.
The spokesman said that the case of the murder of Italian student Giulio Regini in Egypt in early 2016 was also discussed.
El-Sisi reaffirmed to Fico Egypt s keeness to reach the truth, highlighting the Egyptian authorities commitment to full transparency and cooperation between the Egyptian prosecution general with the Italian side.
The president said he instructed the authorities to remove any obstacles in the ongoing investigations in order to determine the culprits and bring them to justice..
According to Rady, Fico expressed Italy s appreciation for Egypt s will to reach the truth, which he said both sides are searching for, through joint cooperation.
Fico added that this would have a positive on Italian public opinion, explaining that a quick resolution to the case would bolster and strengthen relations between the two countries.
Egyptian and Italian authorities have been cooperating for over two years in the investigation into the murder of Regini, who disappeared in Cairo on 25 January 2016 and was found dead 10 days later, bearing signs of torture.
