President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Presidential Palace in Cairo on Sunday.

The leaders are scheduled to hold an Egyptian-Japanese summit at the Presidential Palace later today.

The visit of Prime Minister Kishida to Egypt marks his first stop in his African tour, which will last for three days.

The spokesperson for the presidency, Counselor Ahmed Fahmi, explained that the visit aims to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries and explore opportunities for further cooperation.

Egypt and Japan have maintained a strong relationship for many years, with Japan being one of the largest investors in Egypt.

The summit is expected to focus on strengthening economic cooperation and increasing Japanese investment in various sectors in Egypt, including infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing.

According to Oka Hiroshi, Japan's ambassador to Egypt, the visit aims to strengthen cooperation between both countries in all areas, including economic, political, security, cultural, scientific, and technological, as Japan sees Egypt as a valuable partner in the Middle East and Africa.

The ambassador highlighted that this visit comes amidst the increasing strategic importance of the partnership between both countries in facing economic and security challenges in the region, confirming that economic relations between Egypt and Japan have witnessed remarkable development in recent years, as Japan is considered one of Egypt's most important trading partners.

"In fact, Japan's foreign direct investments in Egypt doubled last year, and Japanese companies are looking to explore business opportunities in Egypt. Japan also provides financial and technical support for development projects in Egypt and works to achieve sustainable development in the country through capacity-building cooperation," he said.

Furthermore, the ambassador pointed out that Egypt is an important partner for Japan in the Middle East, with a strategic geographic location and vast natural resources, particularly in the renewable energy sector, in addition to a high level of local workforce. Egypt is also considered a gateway for trade and investment in the region.

The ambassador clarified that this visit confirms Japan's keenness to develop its relations with Egypt and support its efforts to achieve sustainable development and stability in the region, open the way for consultations, and enhance cooperation on regional and international issues of common interest.

The visit of Prime Minister Kishida to Egypt comes at a time when the country is witnessing a surge in economic growth and stability. The Egyptian government has implemented several reforms in recent years, including measures to improve the business environment, attract foreign investment, and reduce bureaucracy.

As a result of these efforts, Egypt has become an attractive destination for foreign investors, with several international companies setting up operations in the country.