Egypt was one of the countries with which Malta should intensify its efforts to build strong and effective relations, Leo Brincat told the Egyptian Ambassador, Abd El Karim Mahmoud Soliman, at a meeting.

Mr Brincat, Labour spokesman for foreign affairs and information technology, was explaining the party’s document on foreign policy.

The document recognised the fact that Egypt was a country in the centre of the Arab world, geographically, culturally and even intellectually.

The meeting discussed two proposals mentioned in the Labour Party document: the setting up of a business forum between Mediterranean and Arab Gulf countries, and the Labour Party’s idea of promoting Malta as a Mediterranean centre for the development of Islamic Finance.

Mr Brincat and Mr Soliman also discussed cooperation in foreign trade, tourism, the New Agenda Coalition for nuclear disarmament, and the French proposal for a Mediterranean Union. The Middle East was also discussed.