Moreover, FM Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s firm rejection of Israel’s aggression against Lebanon, warning that escalation could lead to a broader conflict in the region.
He highlighted Cairo’s intensive efforts and communications with various Lebanese political factions and international actors to prevent regional escalation, address Lebanon’s presidential vacancy crisis, and empower Lebanese institutions.
Egypt reiterated the necessity for the Israeli army to withdraw from all Lebanese territories and respect Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
Abdelatty also detailed Egypt’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, secure the release of captives and detainees, and put an end to the bloodshed and humanitarian crisis that the Palestinian people have endured over the past year.
Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 42,227 Palestinians, primarily children and women, and wounded 98,464 in its war on Gaza.
Cairo has consistently called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to address the escalating humanitarian tragedy.
Cooperation with Japan
During the call, Abdelatty stated that Egypt is looking forward to the continued influx of Japanese investments and encouraged the Japanese private sector to capitalize on the promising investment opportunities available in the Egyptian market.
He further expressed hopes to expand economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and connecting institutions and research centres in Egypt and Japan.
Japanese investments in Egypt amounted to $73.7 million in FY2021/2022, a significant increase from $37.1 million in FY2020/2021, representing a 98.7 percent growth, according to data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
In 2022, the trade value between Egypt and Japan reached $1.1 billion.
Furthermore, Abdelatty commended the strong bilateral relations between both countries, highlighting their elevation to the “strategic partnership” level in 2023.
Cairo greatly values Japan’s contributions to various development projects, particularly the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the Egyptian-Japanese partnership in education, among others, he noted.