Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received a message from his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa delivered by Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva who is currently visiting Cairo.

In a joint press conference held on Monday13/6/2016 with Silva, Shoukry underlined that the message stresses the importance of cooperation between the two countries, adding that it included an invitation to Sisi to visit Portugal.

At the beginning of the conference, Shoukry welcomed Silva, noting that Sisi received him on Monday morning.

The top Egyptian diplomat underscored that Cairo is pleased with the positive stances of Portugal during the June 30 Revolution and the support it offered to Egypt at the transition phase.

The two sides held discussions and attended ceremonies marking the signing of an agreement to promote investments between both nations.

The talks took up international and regional issues as well as the challenges Egypt and the world are facing including terrorism and extremist ideologies, Shoukry reiterated, noting that the best way to overcome such challenges is cooperation.

For his part, Silva expressed the solidarity of his country with the Egyptian people and government to fight terrorism, adding that the aim of the visit is to boost economic, strategic and political cooperation.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva hailed Egypt's role in achieving stability and security in the region that is reflected on security in Europe and the whole world.

He added that Portugal and Egypt are working on reaching a solution for the Palestinian cause and to push forward the peace process in the Middle East.

He also pointed out that he will meet later today Investment Minister Dalia Khorshid to discuss means of fostering bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry hoped that the agreements signed today will contribute to attracting more Portuguese investments to Egypt in various fields.

He added that there are Egyptian investments in Portugal that Egypt has to benefit from in order to reach the European Union's markets.

Silva also pointed out that during the Egyptian-Portuguese meetings more deals will be signed in order to boost cooperation especially in economic field

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Paris conference concerning the Palestinian cause did not fail.

He added that the French initiative came to fill the vacuum created by the direct negotiations hiatus.

He asserted that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's call to resume peace negotiations coincides with Egypt's policy and efforts to reach just and overall peace.

He added that Egypt is making permanent contacts with the Palestinians and Israel in order to push them forward to achieve the two-State solution.

In statements to MENA, Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said Sisi's visit to Portugal will be a turning point in the Egyptian-Portuguese relations and will open the way to foster cooperation.

Meanwhile, Shoukry said Egypt is coordinating with efforts aiming to restore stability in Egypt, region and the whole world.

Silva pointed out at the importance of combating terrorism via security and military means as well as facing extreme ideologies.

Concerning the situation in Libya, Silva said his country is supporting the Libyan unity government and is keen on building the capacities of the Libyan border guards in order to control the situation in Libya.

Shoukry also asserted the importance of preserving the Libya state institutions, urging the international community to contribute to building the Libyan army.