Egypt's ambassador to Japan Ismail Khairat said Saturday Japan pledged to finance a 20-megawatt solar power plant in Hurghada at a cost of $100 million.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said that the agreement was reached during the recent visit paid by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to Japan.

The cooperation, the first of its kind between Egypt and Japan in this field, opens new horizons for taking advantage of the advanced Japanese technology in the renewable energy sector and supports the government's strategy to increase the reliance on renewable energy through cooperation with international partners, the statement added.

The statement said that the foreign minister's visit came in preparation for a visit to be paid by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Japan, expected to achieve a qualitative leap in bilateral relations.