Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is set to confirm during his participation in the 6th European Union-African Union Summit this week the importance of providing effective European assistance to African countries to achieve sustainable development.

On Tuesday, Sisi headed to Brussels, to take part in the 6th EU-AU Summit, which is held will be held on February 16-17 in the Belgian capital, the seat of the European Union.

The President shall request European help for transferring technology to developing African countries, boosting foreign investment injections into these countries and empowering developing countries to increase their reliance on renewable sources of energy, according to presidential spokesperson Bassam Radi.

The European side is one of the most prominent international partners the AU is keen on enhancing relations with, particularly with regard to issues pertinent to development and maintaining international peace and security.

This is in addition to the continuous consultations between the two sides on ways to address common challenges.

Radi said that during the EU-AU summit, the President is expected to focus on various issues of interest to African countries, notably with regard to strengthening international efforts to facilitate their integration into the global economy.

Sisi will also review Egypt’s preparations to host the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) at the end of this year and Egypt’s efforts for the conference to reach balanced and applicable outcomes.

“The President is also expected to emphasize the need for a joint vision to support and fund the African continent during the COVID-19 pandemic, while facilitating the fair access and distribution of the various techniques relevant to the pandemic, notably with regard to the production of vaccines,” Radi stressed.

During his stay in Brussels, Sisi will also hold talks with Belgian King Philippe Léopold and Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to discuss ways to foster closer bilateral relations so as to achieve the common interests of the two countries and their peoples, and promote coordination and consultations between the two sides on a multitude of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The President will also meet with Belgian businessmen to explore ways to further advance cooperation in the economic, trade and investment sectors between the two sides.

On the sidelines of the EU-AU summit, Sisi will meet with EU leaders as well as a number of heads of state and government to discuss ways to further enhance cooperation and consultations on various regional and international issues.

This year, the European Union-African Union Summit is held under the theme “Africa and Europe: Two Continents with a Shared Vision until 2030”.

The EU-AU summits’ first edition was held in Cairo in 2000, and witnessed the establishment of the partnership mechanisms through “Cairo Action Plan.”