Present Day
RUSSIAN-EGYPTIAN RELATIONS
Diplomatic relations between Russia and Egypt were established on
August 26, 1943.
Russian-Egyptian relations have been steadily developing in recent years, including joint work in various areas of bilateral cooperation as well as constructive interaction on key international and regional issues.
The political dialogue at all levels, including the highest, is full of intensity. In 2019 two Presidents Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on the sidelines of the forum “One Belt One Road” in Beijing (April 26), the G20 summit in Osaka (June 29) and the Russia-Africa summit in Sochi (October 23).
The program of President Sisi’s visit to Russia (Moscow and Sochi), held on October 15-17, 2018, included the signing of the Agreement of the Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Arab Republic of Egypt, which came into force on January 10, 2021 after the completion of ratification procedures in Egypt. The latest visit of Vladimir Putin to Egypt was held on December 11, 2017.
In 2021 the Presidents conducted three telephone conversations (in April, November and December).
Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Sameh Shoukry exchanged their visits in 2021: Russian diplomat visited Cairo on April 11-12 and his Egyptian counterpart was in Moscow on October 3-5. In addition, Lavrov and Shoukry met on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly on September 22 and also conducted three telephone conversations. On October 17, 2018 the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding and Strategic Political Consultations between the two sides was signed.
As part of the inter-parliamentary cooperation the Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Matvienko visited Egypt on March 3-5, 2017 and the Chairman of the State Duma Sergey Naryshkin was in Cairo on January 26, 2016. The delegations of the House of Representatives of Egypt visited Russia in October 2017 and July 2019. In 2019 Cairo hosted consultations within the framework of the Russian-Egyptian Parliamentary Friendship Association. The Head of the Senate of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razek visited Moscow in November 2021.
Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolay Patrushev visited Egypt on March 2, 2015 and January 28-30, 2019. Meetings of the Counter –terrorism Working Group, headed by the deputies of the Ministers of Foreign affairs, took place in Moscow on April 3-4, 2019 and in Cairo on March 25, 2021. Faiza Abou el-Naga, Egyptian President’s adviser on national security issues, visited Moscow on December 22, 2021.
Bilateral trade and economic relations
In 2021 trade exchange has increased by 5,2% in comparison with 2020 year and reached 4,77 billion dollars (in 2020 – 4,534 billion dollars). Russian export is estimated at 4,178 billion dollars and Egyptian import is valued at 0,592 billion dollars.
The Russian-Egyptian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, headed by the trade and industry ministers, is operating. Its last meeting was organized in Moscow on June 24, 2021.
The large-scale economic projects are under way, including construction of the Nuclear Power plant in Daba’a (intergovernmental agreement, dated 2015) as well as creation of the Russian industrial zone in Egypt (intergovernmental agreement, dated 2018) and supply of 1300 passenger wagons by Russian company “Transmashholding” (contract, dated 2018).
Cultural ties
The Russian-Egyptian cultural ties have a long history, being the important part of a whole range of the bilateral relations. They are based on a legal framework and, in particular, on the Agreement of the cultural cooperation, dated 1995. A strong impetus to the development of cultural relations between Moscow and Cairo was made in 2020 when the Presidents of Russia and Egypt declared this year “The Year of the Humanitarian cooperation”. Though the Covid-19 pandemic, its activities were postponed to 2021-2022.
Our countries remain interested in strengthening and expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation as evidenced by the exhibitions, visits of Russian art galleries’ representatives, lectures made by Russian Egyptologists, scientific researchers of the research institutions and members of the writer’s unions organized by the Embassy in coordination with representation of Rossotrudnichestvo in Egypt. Russian citizens work contractually in Egyptian cultural and scientific institutions (Cairo Opera House, Conservatoire etc.).
Russian artistic groups regularly visit Cairo. In March, 2018 the «Imperial Russian Ballet» led by its artistic director Gediminas Taranda performed at the stage of the Cairo Opera House. In October, 2019 «Igor Moiseev State Academic Folk Dance Ensemble» had performed with great success in the Egyptian capital. «St. Petersburg Opera» and State Academic Choreographic Ensemble «Berezka» visited Cairo in 2021.
On December 19, 2013 the bust to the great Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovskiy was installed in Egypt. In 2020 sculpture of the famous Russian Ballerina Anna Pavlova was opened in Cairo. In 2021 monuments to poet Rasul Gamzatov and writer Mikhail Sholokhov were unveiled in Egypt.
In August 2018 75th anniversary of Russian-Egyptian relations was celebrated with range of celebratory events being held on this occasion, including the opening ceremony of the first bust of Russian statesman Yevgeniy Primakov in the Middle East was unveiled in Cairo, and Russian-Egyptian round tables, which were held in various universities. The participants discussed history, current state and prospects of development of the Russian-Egyptian relations.
The Center for Egyptological Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences is operating in the Arab Republic of Egypt. In close coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt and other Egyptian bodies the Center conducts archaeological investigations of several historical sites in Giza, Fayum, Luxor and Alexandria.
Contacts are being developed with respect to higher education. Many students and scholars from various Russian universities regularly undertake internships in Egypt. More than 1600 people attend Russian language courses for foreigners run at the Russian House in Cairo. World-renowned Russian Studies Department continues functioning in the Ain Shams University. In November 2019 President Vladimir Putin awarded the Head of the Russian Language and Literature Department of the Cairo University Dr. Makarem Ahmed Mohammed Al-Ghamry with the Pushkin Medal for contribution in spread and popularization of Russian language and culture.
More than a thousand Muslims from Russia are currently studying at the largest University of the Muslim world – Al-Azhar in Cairo. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation more than
12,4 thousand students from Egypt were studying in Russia in 2021. Moreover, the Government of Russia decided to allocate a quota of 110 free scholarships for Egypt during 2022-2023 academic year. This figure might increase depending on the demand on Russian education among Egyptians.
Since 2006 the Egyptian-Russian University (ERU) has been functioning in Egypt with the first graduates finishing their studies in 2011. In 2014 ERU signed a cooperation agreement with the the Russian State University for the Humanities. Moreover the Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) in partnership with ERU launched the “Nuclear Power Plants: Design, Operation and Engineering” double-degree program. During the first three years students attending the program study in Egypt and then come to Russia to solidify their knowledge at the TPU scientific center “Nuclear Research Reactor”. The graduates receive diplomas from two universities – ERU and TPU.
