President Mubarak confers with French premier on Mideast, cooperation

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday in Cairo received French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, currently visiting Egypt. The two sides discussed the Middle East peace process, the situation in the Balkans, regional and international matters of mutual concern as well as economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian and French prime ministers asserted on Sunday at the International Conference Center, upon inaugurating France Expo '99, the importance of French investment in Egypt. The trade exposition is regarded as the largest held in Egypt.

The French prime minister said that France is determined to take part in the rapid development taking place in Egypt through " our technological participation, industrial investment and improving of trade exchange'.

The French prime Minister stated that French investments have considerably increased, reaching some one billion Egyptian pounds (US $300 million).

Representing the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and President Mubarak's advisor for political affairs Dr. Osama al-Baz. The French side was attended by French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and the French ambassador in Cairo.