Mubarak’s visit to Spain to deepen bilateral relations

Egyptian President Mubarak Monday starts a visit to Spain where he will discuss with King Juan Carlos of Spain and Prime Minister Maria Aznar, ways of deepening bilateral cooperation and the progress of the Middle East peace process.

In press statements, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid said President Mubarak's visit to Spain comes in the context of his foreign tours which are aimed at enhancing development process in Egypt, indicating that Egypt needs Spain's support for its demands to Europe in the framework of the Egyptian European partnership agreement.

"Spain views President Mubarak as a leader of stability and development in the region, President Mubarak also enjoys a wisdom and forward looking vision," Ebeid said.

"One of the files to be tackled during President Mubarak's visit is coordination with Spain as an important market for exporting our agricultural products," Ebeid added.

Moreover, he said Spain is an importer of oil products and natural gas, adding a letter of intent has been recently signed between Egypt and Spain for exporting Egyptian natural gas to Spain for a period of fifteen years.

Atef Ebeid said this file needs to be further discussed given the fact that Spain has sophisticated companies in the field of oil prospecting.

He said Mubarak would discuss ways of expanding cooperation in the field of oil exploration. Ebeid said Spain has managed to develop the production of railway locomotive components and control systems, adding that Egypt is seeking to develop railway workshop and to expand cooperation in the field of railways.

Mubarak's visit to Spain is expected to boost bilateral relations. "President Mubarak's projected visit to Spain is expected to give a new impetus to Egypt-Spain relations," said Egyptian Ambassador to Spain Hussein Haridi.

President Mubarak was the first Egyptian President to visit Spain in September in 1985.