RIYADH —  Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held wide-ranging talks here on Sunday.

The situation in the Middle East, specially the crisis in Yemen, terrorism and El-Sissi’s proposal for a joint anti-terrorism force to tackle regional threats topped the agenda of the talks between the two leaders, according to sources.

The official visit is El-Sisi’s first since King Salman ascended the throne. The visit comes ahead of the Economic Summit in March to encourage businesses to invest in the Egyptian economy.

Saudi Arabia has been a strong backer of Egypt, both financially and morally.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have pledged around $12 billion to Egypt since El-Sisi came to power.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that El-Sisi’s visit to Saudi Arabia is very important.

He hailed as “strategic” the relationship between Cairo and Riyadh, stressing that it is based on common interests.

King Salman held at his palace a luncheon banquet in honor of President El-Sisi.

Saudi Gazette