Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia – Egyptian Presidency
CAIRO – 24 October 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, affirmed their commitment to continued consultation and collaboration at all levels to achieve regional de-escalation and ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon.
As they held a meeting on Thursday on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, the two leaders agreed to continue cooperation to prevent violations in the West Bank, and support the process of establishing an independent Palestinian state to ensure security and stability for all peoples in the region.
The meeting discussed the efforts made by Egypt and South Africa in supporting the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The presidents emphasized the need to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, with the South African president expressing appreciation for Egypt’s essential role in this regard.
Additionally, Sisi and Ramaphosa affirmed their interest in elevating bilateral relations between Egypt and South Africa to serve as a model for achievements at the continental level.
They emphasized the importance of enhancing and diversifying cooperation between the two countries across various political, economic, and security realms, reflecting their strong historical ties.
On the continental level, the two presidents discussed ways to advance African development priorities on the global agenda and within the framework of BRICS, of which Egypt has become a full member.
They stressed their commitment to continuing joint efforts to realize the interests of African peoples and developing countries.
Egypt officially became a member of BRICS in January.
The intergovernmental organization comprises Brazil, Russia, India, and China as founding countries alongside other members: Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Through its BRICS membership, Egypt aims to boost its investment and foreign flows as well as to foster economic cooperation with other member states.
Egypt’s participation in the current BRICS summit in Kazan constitutes the country’s first as a member of the group.
Sisi delivered remarks during the sessions of the BRICS summit on Wednesday as well as the BRICS plus summit, which, in addition to the bloc’s member countries, included friendly countries to the group and influential international organizations today.
The BRICS Plus summit convenes in Kazan, 24 October 2024 – Egyptian Presidency
In his speech on Thursday, Sisi affirmed that Egypt believes in the necessity of solidarity among developing countries and enhancing South-South cooperation as a vital means to confront current challenges.
Sisi also emphasized the need to maximize the utilization of multilateral development banks to enhance the access of developing countries to concessional financing, including access to climate finance.
The president also highlighted the need to leverage the BRICS Plus meetings to bolster South-South cooperation, intensify exchange of expertise across diverse fields, and execute joint projects for mutual benefit.