FILE PHOTO: Saudi Arabia's then Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reacts upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, June 24, 2015. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

CAIRO (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Coptic Pope Tawadros II at Cairo’s largest Coptic cathedral on Monday in what state media said was an unprecedented visit by an official from the conservative Muslim kingdom.

The visit was part of a three-day stay in Egypt for Prince Mohammed, his first public trip abroad since he became heir apparent last year. He will head for Britain and the United States later this month.

Cairo and Riyadh have strengthened ties in recent years and Egypt has received billions of dollars in aid from its rich Gulf Arab ally. The two countries on Sunday set up a $10 billion joint fund to develop a planned mega-city.

Prince Mohammed and Pope Tawadros walked together through St Mark’s Cathedral late on Monday, footage on Saudi TV channel al-Arabiya showed. Egypt’s state news agency MENA said it was the first visit of its kind, without elaborating.

The Gulf Arab kingdom is trying to shed its reputation as a global exporter of an ultra-conservative brand of Islam which critics say has inspired Islamist militants worldwide. Promoting a more moderate form of Islam is one of the more ambitious promises made by Prince Mohammed under plans to transform Saudi and reduce its reliance on oil.

Egypt has suffered from Islamist extremist violence in recent years, including attacks on churches often claimed by the ultra-violent Islamic State group. A bombing next to St Mark’s cathedral killed at least 25 people in December 2016.

Prince Mohammed’s visit comes as his close ally President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi prepares to run in an election he is virtually guaranteed to win.

Alongside posters urging people to vote for Sisi, large banners were put up in central Cairo on Monday with images of the Egyptian president, Prince Mohammed and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. “Welcome to your second country,” said one; another read “Saudi and Egypt are one hand, one nation.”

Egypt has sided with Saudi Arabia on a number of foreign policy issues, including a diplomatic and trade boycott of tiny gas-rich Qatar, and the support of forces battling Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.</s>A handout picture released by the press office of Abbasiya Cathedral on March 3, 2018, shows Pope Tawadros II (R), pope of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L), at the Cathedral of Abbasiya in Cairo. – AFP CAIRO: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continued a visit to Egypt yesterday focused on economic cooperation, with Riyadh agreeing a $10 billion investment with Cairo for a futuristic mega city project. Prince Mohammed accompanied Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to review construction projects near the Suez Canal before boarding a boat with the president to tour the waterway. A Saudi government source said the two countries had agreed to set up a joint $10 billion fund to develop areas of Egypt linked to the NEOM project. The $500 billion NEOM mega city, unveiled by Prince Mohammed last year, is planned to be a biotech and digital hub spread over 26,500 sq km in an area facing Jordan and Egypt. The Saudi gove..

A handout picture released by the press office of Abbasiya Cathedral on March 3, 2018, shows Pope Tawadros II (R), pope of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L), at the Cathedral of Abbasiya in Cairo. – AFP

CAIRO: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continued a visit to Egypt yesterday focused on economic cooperation, with Riyadh agreeing a $10 billion investment with Cairo for a futuristic mega city project. Prince Mohammed accompanied Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to review construction projects near the Suez Canal before boarding a boat with the president to tour the waterway. A Saudi government source said the two countries had agreed to set up a joint $10 billion fund to develop areas of Egypt linked to the NEOM project.

The $500 billion NEOM mega city, unveiled by Prince Mohammed last year, is planned to be a biotech and digital hub spread over 26,500 sq km in an area facing Jordan and Egypt. The Saudi government source said the joint fund, which involves leased land for the Egyptian share, would be used to develop lands in the south of the Sinai Peninsula as part of NEOM.

Prince Mohammed, who landed in Cairo on Sunday, is to fly to Britain tomorrow and later this month to the United States, in his first forays abroad as crown prince. His visit to Egypt deals with “economic and investment cooperation,” Egyptian presidency spokesman Bassam Radi told state television. Prince Mohammed and Sisi agreed in talks to bolster economic ties and launch joint projects, “particularly in the tourism sector on the Red Sea”, Radi said.

Later yesterday Prince Mohammed met Egypt’s top cleric Ahmed Al-Tayeb of the Al-Azhar institution, whose historic mosque in Cairo is being renovated with Saudi funding. He also met Coptic Pope Tawadros II at Cairo’s largest Coptic cathedral in what state media said was an unprecedented visit by an official from the conservative Muslim kingdom. Prince Mohammed and Pope Tawadros walked together through St Mark’s Cathedral late yesterday, footage on Saudi TV channel Al-Arabiya showed. Egypt’s state news agency MENA said it was the first visit of its kind, without elaborating.

The kingdom is trying to shed its reputation as a global exporter of an ultraconservative brand of Islam which critics say has inspired Islamist militants worldwide. Promoting a more moderate form of Islam is one of the more ambitious promises made by Prince Mohammed under plans to transform Saudi and reduce its reliance on oil.

Saudi Arabia views Egypt as a cornerstone of regional stability, after former army chief Sisi overthrew his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Riyadh viewed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood with suspicion and at one point briefly recalled its ambassador from Cairo during his turbulent year in power. It has since showered Cairo with aid to prop up the country’s economy, in a relationship that has led to some controversy in Egypt.

Prince Mohammed’s visit also comes as Sisi prepares to run in an election he is virtually guaranteed to win. Alongside posters urging people to vote for Sisi, large banners were put up in central Cairo yesterday with images of the Egyptian president, Prince Mohammed and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. “Welcome to your second country,” said one; another read “Saudi and Egypt are one hand, one nation.” Egypt has sided with Saudi Arabia on a number of foreign policy issues, including a diplomatic and trade boycott of tiny gas-rich Qatar, and the support of forces battling Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. – Agencies</s>Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Coptic Pope Tawadros II during a visit to the largest Coptic cathedral in Cairo on Monday. The first of its kind in the history of Egyptian-Saudi relations.

The visit was part of a three-day stay in Egypt for Prince Mohammed whose objective is to strengthen ties between Saudi Arabia and the most important Coptic Church in the Middle East.

Cairo and Riyadh have moved closer together in recent years and Egypt has received billions of dollars in aid from Saudi Arabia. The two countries have set up a $10 billion mutual fund to develop a planned mega-city.

The promotion of moderate Islam is also among Prince Mohammed’s promises in his plans to transform Saudi Arabia and reduce its dependence on oil.</s>CAIRO: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will hold a first-ever meeting on Monday with Egypt’s Coptic Pope Tawadros II during his visit to Cairo, according to a church spokesman.

Bin Salman is set to arrive in Cairo on Sunday for a three-day visit to Egypt for talks with Egyptian officials.

On Monday, he will visit the papal seat, the Coptic Orthodox Church, where he will meet Tawadros II, Paulos Halim told Anadolu Agency.

In April 2016, Saudi King Salman met with Tawadros during his visit to Cairo, the first-ever meeting between a Saudi monarch and the Coptic pope.

Bin Salman’s visit to Egypt is the first since he was appointed a crown prince in June 2017.

Coptic Christians are estimated to account for between 10 and 15 percent of Egypt’s population of about 100 million, according to the Coptic Church. AA</s>Saudi Arabia's crown prince arrived in Egypt as he begins his first official trip overseas since assuming the powerful role last June.

 

Mohammed bin Salman, 33, was greeted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as he disembarked from the plane on Sunday.

 

After meeting with Egyptian officials during his three-day visit, Prince Mohammed - known as MBS - will head to the United Kingdom before making a final stop in Washington DC.

His visit comes a day after Egypt's top court upheld a deal to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The agreement was first announced during a visit to Cairo in April 2016 by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during which he announced a multi-billion-dollar package of investments and soft loans for Egypt.

Following the signing of the deal, widespread protests broke out across Egypt. Opponents of the agreement said it amounted to selling off Egypt's sovereign powers and that it violated the constitution, which bars the surrender of any territory.

Authorities in Riyadh have taken an active interest in Egyptian politics following the overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

 

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait have provided billions of dollars in support since Sisi's power grab.

 

While expressing support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, Cairo has stopped short of full engagement and has instead settled for a less direct military-support role.</s>Saudi Arabia's crown prince has vowed to help Britain thwart terror attacks in the future by sharing intelligence on jihadis.

Ahead of his visit to Britain this week, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman said he believes close co-operation between Riyadh and the UK's intelligence agencies would prevent attacks.

In an interview with the Telegraph, the heir to the Saudi throne, said: 'We want to fight terrorism and we want to fight extremism because we need to build stability in the Middle East.

'The British and Saudi people, along with the rest of the world, will be much safer if you have a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia.'

The Crown Prince, who effectively rules the Kingdom, said extremists and terrorists are linked through 'spreading their agenda.'

'We need to work together to promote moderate Islam,' he added.

The 32-year-old is set to meet with MI5 and MI6 when he arrives in Britain for a three-day visit on Wednesday before flying to the United States.

He was also been invited to attend a meeting of the National Security Council.

Prince Mohammad will also meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and other senior ministers, as well as members of the Royal Family.

He is currently in Egypt on his first public trip abroad since he became heir apparent last year.

It comes after a tumultuous year in which he consolidated power by sidelining rivals, vowed to modernise the country and stepped up its rivalry with Iran.</s>His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman is visiting the UK for the first time since he became Crown Prince in June 2017 and since Saudi Arabia started a major programme of domestic reforms. Saudi Arabia is amongst the largest political, diplomatic and economic power in the Middle East, and the visit will usher in a new era in our bilateral relations with one of our oldest friends in the region.

The Crown Prince’s visit builds on the Prime Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia in November 2017. It will help to enhance our co-operation in tackling international challenges such as terrorism, extremism, the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen and other regional issues such as Iraq and Syria.

Saudi Arabia has also set out Vision 2030, a roadmap to open up the country’s economy over the next 15 years. This will provide opportunities for British businesses in sectors including education, entertainment and healthcare where they have world-class expertise. It also includes plans for Saudi Arabia to become a global investment powerhouse and the Crown Prince’s visit will help explore ways in which Saudi Arabia can build on its investment in the UK in sectors such as infrastructure.

British Ambassador Simon Collis talks about the ties between our two countries

Find out more about the Crown Prince’s visit
• Prime Minister Theresa May looks ahead to the visit</s>Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman arrived in Egypt on Sunday to meet with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, Cairo airport sources said. This is his first public trip abroad since he became crown prince last year and purged the country's political and economic elite in an anti-corruption drive.

Meanwhile, the presidential palace in Cairo said Sissi had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump by phone about Egypt's fight against terrorism, and other regional issues.

Bin Salman's arrival comes a day after Egypt’s top court dismissed all outstanding legal challenges to a deal transferring two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The plan to cede the islands to Riyadh was announced in 2016 and became mired in political protest and legal action.

After his three-day visit to Egypt, Bin Salman will head for Britain on March 7 for an official meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May that will focus on topics such as extremism and societal reform. Later in the month he is expected to travel to the United States, Riyadh's closest Western ally.

Ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia have become stronger since Sissi took power after ousting the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013. Egypt renders support to Riyadh as it fights against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.</s>Saudi Arabia and Egypt set up a $10 billion joint fund on Sunday to develop a planned mega-city, committing more than 1,000 square kilometres in the south Sinai, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. The deal came at the start of Prince Mohammed’s first public trip abroad since becoming heir apparent last year and purging the kingdom’s business and political elite in a crackdown on corruption that saw top princes and businessmen detained. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have strengthened ties since Sisi took power in 2013 after ousting the Muslim Brotherhood, which both countries have banned and designated as a terrorist organisation.

A Saudi official told Reuters that Riyadh’s part of the new joint investment fund will be cash to help develop the Egyptian side of NEOM, which Prince Mohammed unveiled last October as part of plans to wean the world’s top crude exporter off oil revenues. The investment deal underlines the strategic ties between the richest Arab state and the most populous. Cairo supports Riyadh in its fight against Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen, and last year joined a Saudi-led boycott of Gulf state Qatar and agreed to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi despite widespread criticism at home. The day before Prince Mohammed’s visit, Egypt’s top court dismissed all outstanding legal challenges to the deal on the Red Sea islands.

The Saudi visit comes three weeks ahead of an election where former general Sisi is seeking a second term. He is guaranteed a win in a vote where, critics say, authorities have locked up opponents or forced them to halt election campaigns. As Egypt tries to keep a lid on any internal unrest, it has sided firmly with Saudi Arabia on key foreign policy issues including the face-off between the Sunni kingdom and its Shi’ite foe Iran. Egypt eagerly joined Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies last June in a trade and diplomatic boycott of Qatar, whose government and media it accuses of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, hundreds of whose members Cairo has imprisoned and sentenced to death. Doha denies the charges. The Saudi prince will head to Britain on March 7 following his three-day visit to Cairo and then to the United States, Riyadh’s closest Western ally, later in the month.</s>Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to travel to Egypt, a key partner in Saudi regional adventures whose president came to power after a coup.

 The office of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced in a statement on Saturday that the Saudi crown prince was due in Cairo on Sunday for a three-day visit.

 Bin Salman will then head to the United Kingdom on March 7 and to the United States on March 19. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have strengthened relations since 2013, when Sisi took power following the military overthrow of Egypt’s first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi.—Agencies
Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammad bin Salman meets Pope Tawadros II at Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral.