The Presidency
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”
Your Excellency and Dear Friend, President Lee Jae Myung,
President of the Republic of Korea,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me first to express my profound gratitude to His Excellency President Lee Jae Myung for the generous reception and utmost courtesy extended to us on my second visit to the friendly Republic of Korea. I also extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Korean government and people on the occasion of National Foundation Day on the third of October, wishing the Republic of Korea and its friendly people sustainable progress and everlasting prosperity.
The Egyptian and Korean peoples have long been bound by deep-rooted historical ties between the two countries, having long served as vital conduits for trade and cultural exchange bridging East Asia and the Middle East. This heritage has forged a solid foundation for an enduring partnership that has flourished over recent decades.
Over the past decade, since my last visit to your friendly country, Egyptian-Korean relations have witnessed a transformative leap, fostering closer bilateral cooperation across a multitude of spheres, primarily in technology, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, as well as new and renewable energy. This momentum has rendered the elevation of our ties essential to leverage our nations’ vast potential and deliver mutual benefit.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we crown the growing momentum in our bilateral relations by declaring the elevation of Egyptian-Korean ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership. This marks a new milestone from which a promising future unfolds for our enduring relationship, grounded in mutual respect and shared benefit.
This step embodies the high priority the two countries accord to advancing our relations, opening new prospects for Egyptian-Korean cooperation across all political, economic, and developmental domains. This Strategic Partnership with the friendly Republic of Korea aligns with Egypt’s balanced and diversified foreign policy, a policy rooted in strategic equilibrium and committed to fostering relations with all nations on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.
Moreover, the Egyptian-Korean partnership contributes to reinforcing international stability and security and upholding the foundations of the international order, which is grounded in the principles and provisions of international law, while simultaneously achieving development and prosperity for the peoples of our two countries and the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Guided by this conviction, we in Egypt view with deep admiration and appreciation Korea’s pioneering developmental, industrial, and technological journey. It has achieved an economic miracle acclaimed worldwide, serving as an inspiring model for developing nations striving for sustainable development. We look forward to drawing upon Korea’s advanced expertise and broadening the prospects of cooperation between our two countries to be commensurate with the level of our political relations and fully realize the vast potential available to our nations.
We also look forward to scaling up Korean industrial investments in Egypt in support of our ambitious programs for localizing advanced manufacturing, primarily in automotive production, electronics, petrochemicals, and new and renewable energy. This is in addition to bolstering economic, investment, industrial, and technological cooperation between our two countries, while facilitating greater access for Egyptian exports to the Korean market.
Esteemed Guests,
During our consultations today, His Excellency President Lee Jae Myung and I deliberated on the swift pace of global developments and the growing escalation and tensions across several regions, primarily the Middle East. Our discussions reflected a profound convergence of views and alignment with regard to the vital need to foster a culture of peace, while fortifying stability across both the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula.
In this context, I reviewed Egypt’s tireless efforts to restore security and stability in the Middle East to safeguard the freedom and safety of navigation through vital international sea lanes, and avert the spillover of ongoing crises into broader arenas.
I reaffirmed Egypt’s steadfast policy rooted in reinforcing the stability of the Horn of Africa and upholding the sovereignty of its nations. Egypt firmly opposes any measures designed to forge new maritime access arrangements in the Red Sea that compromise the sovereignty, unity, or territorial integrity of its coastal states. In this regard, I reiterated that primary responsibility for Red Sea security and maritime governance rests squarely and exclusively with its littoral states.
I also emphasized to my dear friend, His Excellency President Lee Jae Myung, the paramount significance of the Nile waters to Egypt, a matter that constitutes an existential cause for the Egyptian people, as the Nile serves as the lifeline for over one hundred million citizens. I reiterated that while Egypt remains fully committed to development endeavors throughout our sisterly Nile Basin states, it resolutely rejects any unilateral actions that infringe upon the principle of causing no harm, violate relevant provisions of international law, or compromise Egypt’s historical water rights.
Moreover, I underscored Egypt’s unyielding stance on the imperative of achieving a just and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian cause, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy and based on the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian State along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is the sole viable path toward securing lasting peace in the region. I also expressed our expectation that an increasing number of nations will recognize the State of Palestine.
Furthermore, I conveyed our deep appreciation for Korea’s future, active participation in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
I also reiterated Egypt’s categorical rejection of any schemes aimed at displacing the Palestinian people, stressing our absolute opposition to the dangerous Israeli escalation across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
To conclude, I offer my sincere gratitude once more to His Excellency President Lee Jae Myung for the warm reception, and I look forward to joining efforts to deliver lasting prosperity for our peoples, carrying forward a thirty-year legacy of shared success.
Thank you very much.
