Egypt, Cairo: In a meeting between Kazakhstani president Nursultan Nazarbaye and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Egyptian president said, Egypt is looking forward to increasing the number of Kazakhstani tourists visiting Egypt after they launch a direct airline between Cairo and Astana from March. Egypt is keen to boost economic ties with Kazakhstan, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said Friday during his visit there.

Nazarbayev said he will encourage his citizens to visit Egypt, owing to its historical importance and great civilisation, according to a statement released by the presidency spokesperson. Al-Sisi said Egypt is also looking forward to benefiting from Kazakhstan’s experience in changing the location of the capital since Egypt is planning to build a new city.

Nazarbayev said Egypt is the keystone of the stability in the Middle East and praised the Egyptian efforts to achieve peace in the region. Both leaders discussed further economic collaboration especially regarding food security and the agriculture sector. They also agreed on the capability of integration between Kazakhstani Light Rail Transit (LRT) project and the development project in Suez Canal.

Al-Sisi and Nazarbayev emphasised the importance of confronting Islamophobia by spreading the “true Islam and its tolerant values”. Al-Sisi praised Kazakhstan’s initiative of holding the “Religions Against Terrorism” conference in 2016. In a separate meeting with Kazakhstani Prime Minister Karim Massimov, Al-Sisi said Egypt welcomes Kazakhstani investments especially in the Suez Canal area. Both sides agreed to establish a joint committee to review all plans of the prospective projects. Massimov praised the Egyptian efforts in fighting terrorism.