Shoukry's visit to US meant to enhance bilateral ties

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's visit to the US on Tuesday is meant to enhance bilateral cooperation at this important transitional period in the US, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's spokesman said.

During the several days' visit, Shoukry is scheduled to meet with US Secretay of State John Kerry and a number of Congress members, Ahmed Abu Zeid said.

The talks are scheduled to tackle boosting bilateral cooperation, especially the US aid to Egypt, as well as Egypt's recent economic reform measures, the spokesman said.

Shoukry will also post Kerry on Egypt's standpoint vis-a-vis the Syrian, Libyan and Palestinian files as well as the conditions in Iraq and Yemen and ongoing counter-terror efforts, Abu Zeid said.

During the visit, Shoukry and Kerry will sign a memo on banning monuments smuggling.

On Thursday, Shoukry will attend a ceremony organized by the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, marking the restoration of four smuggled Egyptian artifacts from the US.

At the end of the visit, Shoukry will meet in New York with United Nations Secretary General-designate António Guterres, the spokesman said.

The meeting will address an array of regional and international files as well as Egypt's expectations of the new UN chief and Egypt's vision vis-a-vis the UN role in realizing peace, security and development and combating terror.

The top diplomat will also deliver a speech at the 13th annual forum of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy - an affiliate to the Brookings Institution. 

This is the first time for an Egyptian minister to address such important event due to be attended by the US president, the spokesman highlighted.

Source: MENA