German ambassador: preparations underway for Merkel's deputy visit

German Ambassador to Cairo Julius Georg Luy announced Wednesday preparations for several significant visits by German officials to Egypt in the near future.

One of these visits will be by Chancellor Angela Merkel's Deputy Sigmar Gabriel who will co-chair the Egyptian-German joint economic committee.

Another visit by the German interior minister is expected to see inking an agreement on bilateral security cooperation to fight terrorism, illegal immigration and aviation safety.

Luy said in a press briefing, held at the German embassy in Cairo, that his upcoming agenda will focus on three axes; bolstering bilateral political relations and bolstering parliamentary cooperation.

The third axis will focus on the Egyptian civil society and means of boosting cooperation and cultural exchange with the German side, he added.

As for tourism, Luy said that German tourists' visits to Egypt didn't stop, adding that 20,000 German tourists are in Egypt.

Hailing Egypt's keenness to maintain stability in the region, the German ambassador expressed interest in boosting economic cooperation with Egypt through facilitating German investments into Egypt.

Source:  MENA