President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met with the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.

The leaders discussed, in particular, economic cooperation.

Al-Sisi praised Equatorial Guinea’s economic development, and pointed to the promising investment opportunities between the two countries. Al-Sisi emphasised the importance of expanding mutual cooperation to include many fields, reported state-owned Al-Ahram.

Obiang requested that a number of Egyptian doctors be sent to Equatorial Guinea for the African Cup of Nations, which was immediately approved by Al-Sisi, Al-Ahram reported.

The two presidents discussed the activity of Egyptian companies in the field of housing, construction and paving roads in Equatorial Guinea and strengthening such economic relations during the following joint commission between the two countries.

During the meeting, Al-Sisi pointed to Egypt’s intention to run for the membership of the UN Security Council for the year 2016/2017.

Obiang praised Egypt’s political and economic reforms, as well as its efforts to achieve development.  Obiang also welcomed the restoration of Egypt’s leading position in Africa, pointing out that Egypt’s stability is the stability of the continent as a whole. Its role should complement its efforts to provide its needs, and that Egypt should cooperate with the countries of the South, and work to maximise the utilisation of natural resources.

On the meeting’s agenda  were issues of regional importance including eradication of terrorism and countering extremist ideas that exploit the conditions of poverty in the continent. The talks also saw the confirmation of the importance of joining the international community’s efforts to combat Ebola in the African continent, and to provide support for countries that suffer from it.

The Egyptian president praised Equatorial Guinea’s support of Egypt in African forums, particularly the African Union. Al-Sisi invited Obiang to participate in the opening of the new Suez Canal Project, as well as to the economic conference which Egypt will host in March 2015.

Obiang also extended an invitation to Al-Sisi to visit Equatorial Guinea in the context of the “distinguished friendly relations between the two countries, and to give more support and political momentum to bilateral relations at all levels”.