The Diplomat
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began their first state visit to Cairo this Tuesday, during which the King emphasized that Spain and Egypt share “a desire” for “peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and reconciliation in the Middle East,” something that “at the moment seems like a utopia, but it must be possible, and we must all contribute to making it so.”
The King and Queen are making a state visit from September 16 to 19 at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and the State Secretary for Trade, María Amparo López Senovilla. Both countries elevated their relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership following President Al Sisi’s visit to Spain in February of this year.
Once in Cairo, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were received by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdelghaffar, and the ambassadors of both countries. They then proceeded to The St. Regis Cairo Hotel, where they offered a reception to the Spanish community residing in Egypt, attended by approximately 300 Spanish citizens.
“Spain and Egypt share a desire that we firmly hold: for peaceful coexistence, dialogue, and reconciliation in the Middle East that will ultimately allow for a stable environment for the development of peoples with dignity and justice,” the King stated during the event. “At the moment it seems like a utopia, but it must be possible, and we must all contribute to making it so,” he added.
The Spanish community in Egypt is made up of approximately 1,000 Spanish residents. Around half of the Spanish colony in Egypt is made up of dual Spanish-Egyptian nationals. In addition to the Embassy’s institutional building, the diplomatic representation includes the Economic and Commercial Office, the Spanish Cooperation Office, and the Cervantes Institute. Also notable is the presence of Spaniards in international organizations (IMF, UNESCO, World Bank, FAO, IOM, and UNHCR) and NGOs, in addition to Spain’s participation in archaeological missions.
The King and Queen will be officially received this Wednesday by President Al-Sisi and his wife at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace, where an official welcome ceremony will be held. They will also make a series of visits to Spanish economic, cultural, and scientific projects in Cairo and Luxor, including archaeological missions. During the trip, the Spanish-Egyptian Business Forum will also be held to boost economic and trade relations between the two countries.
