Sisi Affirms Egypt's Support for Italy Over COVID-19 Pandemic

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi made a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday, according to Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady. 

Rady said that President Sisi expressed his sincere condolences for the loss of Italian victims of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19. 

“President Abdel Fattah El Sisi affirmed Egypt’s people and government solidarity with people and government of Italy to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,” added Rady. 

The official spokesperson revealed that Sisi expressed Egypt’s readiness to support Italy during the current difficult circumstances, specially in the terms of exchange of experiences and coordination between concerned authorities so as to provide health care in both countries. 

On his part, the Italian prime minister lauded the Egyptian stance backing Italy in the ongoing ordeal, stressing his country’s keenness to enhance joint cooperation with Egypt within the framework of international efforts to combat the novel coronavirus.

On March 12, the Egyptian president phoned Italy’s Conte and extended his warm condolences over the victims of the coronavirus. 

Conte then said he “Looks forward to deepening the joint cooperation in the field of exchanging experiences between the competent authorities in the two countries in the framework of international efforts to combat the virus.”

Within the framework of bilateral relations, a number of issues related to joint cooperation were discussed based on the agreements signed during the Italian prime minister’s recent visit to Cairo on January 14, in addition views were exchanged on some regional issues of common interest, particularly the developments of the Libyan issue. 

On March 22, EgyptAir cargo plan arrived in Malpensa airport, Italy, carrying protective medical supplies. The shipment included about one million protective face masks from Egypt to the Italian side to help confront the coronavirus. It was sent to the Italian region of Lombardy.

In total, Italian authorities have recorded 115,242 cases and 13,915 deaths as of Thursday, April 2nd.