CAIRO, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani discussed the latest regional and international developments here on Thursday, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.
Al-Sisi briefed Tajani on Egypt's efforts to contain regional tensions and mitigate the repercussions on regional security and stability, according to the statement.
Tajani affirmed Italy's keenness to continue political consultations with Egypt to achieve peaceful settlements to regional crises, contributing to peace and prosperity in the region, the statement added.
The meeting also addressed developments in the Horn of Africa. Both sides stressed the importance of joint coordination to support security and stability in the region, while emphasizing respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries.
The two sides also underscored the need to ensure freedom of navigation along international maritime routes and highlighted the strategic importance of the Red Sea to Egypt's national security, the statement said.
Al-Sisi affirmed that ensuring security in the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of the littoral states, and rejected any attempts to destabilize the region or push it toward militarization or internationalization, it added. ■
