President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s week saw a flurry of activity as he held meetings at the internal and foreign levels.
The focus of Sisi's meetings and talks last week was for promoting the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC) slated to be held in Sharm el Sheikh on March 13-15.
Sisi started last week with meeting former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder at the Presidential Palace in Heliopolis.
Sisi stressed bilateral cooperation in vocational training in order to prepare qualified youths who could contribute to the working force.
Sisi met with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and the ministers of international cooperation and investment for discussing preparations for the economic conference.
In his meeting with members of a newly-established Specialized Economic Development Council, Sisi stressed the importance of the role played by economy in enhancing the pillars of the Egyptian state.
Sisi expected the council to come up with scientific ideas that can be implemented in coordination with state institutions concerned.
 Last week, Sisi visited Saudi Arabia for talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdel Aziz on means of boosting bilateral relations and Arab developments.
In Saudi Arabia, Sisi also met with a number of senior Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdel Aziz and Governor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Bandar.
Sisi hailed Saudi Arabia's support for Egypt in all fields.
This week, Sisi met with Secretary General of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev.
In his talks with the Russian official, Sisi said it is important to adopt a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism in all its forms.
He also underlined the need for promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Sisi further said that it is important to work on restoring security and stability in countries of the region.
He also warned of the spread of terrorism, adding that poverty is a main reason of disseminating terrorism that should be confronted.
This week, Sisi met with an adviser to the Burundi president. Mohamed Rukara who handed over a message from the Burundi president to Sisi on ways to boost bilateral ties.
Mohamed Rukara asserted that an anticipated visit by Sisi to the Nile Basin countries will settle all pending issues of joint concern.
Sisi met with UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Program Achim Steiner.
During the meeting, Steiner congratulated President Sisi after Egypt assumed the presidency of the African Union (AU) Climate Change Committee and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN).
He also praised the role to be played by a Paris climate conference in December to support the use of renewable energy in the African continent.
Sisi stressed that strenuous efforts will be exerted during the Paris conference to reach a new binding deal over the climate change and narrow the gap between the developing and advanced countries.
He also stressed the importance of combating desertification and stopping the illegal use of forests.
This week, Sisi also met with Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Christiana Figueres.
Sisi underlined the importance Egypt is attaching to ongoing negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change out of its awareness of the size of climate challenges.
The negotiations are a real chance to boost the economies of developing countries, achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty through attracting investments to different economic fields, the Egyptian leader said.
He pointed out to the natural resources available in developing countries, including Egypt, such as solar and wind energy but their projects and studies require funding.
Making renewable resources of energy available to African countries will help end the depletion of environmental resources, like forests, and therefore overcome desertification, Sisi told the UN official.
Regarding postponing parliamentary elections, Sisi last week asserted that judiciary is totally independent and it is necessary to respect the ruling of the Supreme Constitutional Court.
The Presidency stands at equal distance from all political powers which will run in the elections, he underlined.
Sisi wrapped up his activity last week with making a Cabinet reshuffle that saw the appointment of eight new ministers for the portfolios of interior, tourism, communications, culture, education and agriculture with two new introduced ones: vocational education and population.