Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi highlighted on Saturday the importance of strategic relations with the United States.
His remark came during a meeting with Chairman of the U.S. Central Command Joseph Votel in the egyptian capital Cairo.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Radi said Sisi reviewed with Votel efforts for fighting terrorism, adding that the Egyptian president welcomed the Bright Star 2018 joint military drills held from Sept. 8 to 20 in Egypt.
The U.S. commander lauded military relations with Egypt and underlined his country's keenness to upgrade its relations with the North African country in all fields, the statement said.
He also praised efforts by Egypt to fight terrorism and its role in ensuring security and stability in the region.
Egypt annually receives about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars from the United States in military and economic aid since it signed the 1979 U.S.-sponsored peace treaty with Israel.
