JEDDAH: Egyptian Prime Minister Issam Sharaf is to visit the Kingdom next week for the first time since taking office, as part of a regional tour also taking him to Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. During his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia Sharaf will meet King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to discuss political, economic and trade relations, and a range of regional issues including Palestinian dialogue and Egyptian efforts to end internal division, and a revival of the peace process. Ahmad Al-Saman, media adviser to the Egyptian Prime Minister, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that Sharaf's visit would be a “significant opportunity for dialogue with the Saudi leadership to forge ahead with the strategic partnership between the two countries”. “It will also be a chance for the Saudi leadership to be brought fully up to date on internal developments in Egypt over the last few months and for economic cooperation to be widened and trade exchange to be increased between the two countries and also between Egypt and other Gulf countries,” Al-Saman said. “It is hoped that more Saudi and Gulf investments can be attracted to Egypt in the near future to help it overcome the consequences of recent events which might have affected the economy and investment.” He said that Cairo is seeking to further relations with Riyadh and strengthen joint Arab efforts. It wishes, he said, to “end Israeli occupation in all Arab and Palestinian lands” and “realize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people”, which include “creating a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital”. Al-Saman described Saudi-Egyptian relations as “strong and continuous and not dependent on any other factors”. “Riyadh and Cairo represent two states that are fundamental to the region and that wish to see security and stability in the Middle East,” he said. “The Kingdom strengthens Arab solidarity and produces solutions to Arab and Islamic issues.” Egyptian sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that King Abdullah and Prime Minister Sharaf are also expected to discuss Iranian interference in Gulf's internal affairs. Sharaf will be accompanied on his tour by a number of senior figures, among them his ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Finance, and Trade and Industry.
