President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call today from French President Emmanuel Macron.

The official spokesperson for the Presidency of the Republic stated that the call affirmed the strength of bilateral relations between Egypt and France, and the two sides' commitment to building on the momentum that accompanied the French President's recent visit to Cairo, to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, particularly economic, trade, and investment.

Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, the official spokesperson, explained that the call addressed Egypt's intensive mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of hostages and detainees. The need to deliver adequate and appropriate humanitarian aid to the people of the Strip was also emphasized. In this regard, the French president affirmed his country's full support for Egypt's efforts.

The two sides also stressed the need to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.

In the same context, the President welcomed President Macron's recent announcement regarding France's intention to officially announce its decision to recognize the Palestinian state during the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly next September in New York. He stressed that this decision comes within the framework of ongoing French efforts to implement the two-state solution, as it is the only way to fulfill the aspirations of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to live in peace side by side and achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

The official spokesperson stated that the call also emphasized Egypt's support for the joint French-Saudi initiative to organize a high-level international conference on a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, scheduled to be held in New York this July.