Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has asserted Egypt's keenness on cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

At a meeting with head of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano on Thursday, the president further expressed interest in capitalizing on the programs and experience of the IAEA as Egypt is fully aware of the importance of nuclear energy and its peaceful applications for attaining economic and social development.

President Sisi said at the meeting that Egypt is now working to establish a nuclear power plant in Dabaa area for power generation in accordance with the international criteria for nuclear safety and security.

The president also underlined Egypt's stance on maintaining efforts for rendering the Middle East a region free from weapons of mass destruction, said Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Ala Youssef in press statements.

For his part, Amano made reference to his visit to Egypt in April and his successful meetings with Egyptian officials on joint cooperation, added the spokesman.

He showed readiness to send an IAEA team to Cairo for assisting the Egyptian side in outlining the frameworks for the proposed nuclear power plant in Dabaa area.