These are the goals of Egyptian President Al Sisi’s visit to Algeria

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi asserted that the goal behind his short visit to Algeria on Wednesday was to discuss topical challenges facing both Arab states.

Presidential spokesman Ihab Badawi said that El-Sisi’s visit to Algeria represented a quantum leap in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

El-Sisi also said that Egypt appreciates Algeria’s role and support in resuming Egypt’s activities in this week’s African summit.

Badawi added that El-Sisi expressed Egypt’s aspiration to bring investments back to Algeria, utilizing the private sector to contribute to development plans with Algeria’s government.

Also discussed were a number of regional issues including Palestine and the political situation in Libya, Syria and Iraq, Badawi said.

Egyptian-Algerian relations turned sour in 2010 after the Desert Foxes’ 1-0 victory over the Pharaohs in the World Cup qualifications’ decider in November 2009.

Egypt and Algeria both have long borders with Libya where, three years after the fall of the Gaddafi regime, a weak central government is struggling to contain Islamist militants and brigades of former rebels and militias.

“There are issues that we must work on with Algeria, with whom we share strategic ties,” said El-Sisi, adding that a joint plan and vision for the two countries’ interests must be launched, sentiments echoed by Algerian President Abdellaziz Bouteflika.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Al Sisi also called for coordinated efforts with Algeria to fight the scourge of terrorism.

“The purpose of my visit to Algeria is to reach a shared vision of common interests and challenges facing the two countries and the region,” the Egyptian former army chief was quoted as saying in Algiers.

“The two countries need to work together on a number of issues,” he added, citing the vexed problem of “terrorism… [which requires] a coordination of positions, as he put it.”

Al Sissi was greeted by Algerian premier Abdelmalek Sellal and Senate speaker Abdelkader Bensalah, and was later received by President Abdellaziz Bouteflika.

President Al-Sisi discussed regional and international developments with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika. This was Al-Sisi’s first international visit since his inauguration on 8 June.

After Algeria, Al-Sisi headed to Equatorial Guinean capital Malabo for the 23rd African Union (AU) Summit. He is expected to address the summit on Thursday, as is tradition for a newly elected president of a member state.

This is Egypt’s first activity in the AU since the lifting of an 11 month suspension.

Egypt’s former Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said Algeria supported Egypt’s 3 July power shift and paid Algeria a visit in January where he was received by President Bouteflika and met with his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra.

Fahmy delivered a message on “the longstanding political, economic and trade ties with Algeria”, and the desire to further develop ties.

The AU was quick to suspend Egypt from all activities just two days after the ouster of former President and Muslim Brotherhood politician Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

During Fahmy’s January visit, Ramtane Lamamra said “Algeria did not ask for the isolation or exclusion of any member of the AU.” He described freezing Egypt’s activities as “precautionary measure” to encourage Egypt to return to constitutional order.

Fahmy commended the Algerian stance concerning the Egyptian situation. “Egypt is grateful that Algeria did not interfere in their internal politics,” he said.

Throughout the 11 months, Egypt rejected the AU’s suspension decision. Less than two weeks after Al-Sisi’s inauguration as the country’s new President, Egypt was finally reinstated in the African Union.