Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met Prime Minister Najib Mikati at Heliopolis Palace in Cairo, in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.

The parties discussed Lebanese-Egyptian relations and the developments in the region during the hour-long meeting, Egypt's Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said.

According to a statement by the presidential spokesperson, el-Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to support Lebanese national interests and spare Lebanon the risks of regional conflicts as part of Egypt's consistent interest in Lebanon and its people. 

On his account, the Lebanese Prime Minister hailed “Egypt’s sincere and tireless efforts to mobilize international support for Lebanon at all levels in light of the continuity of the hard challenges the Lebanese people are facing, especially at the political and economic levels.”

"Mikati looked forward to cement cooperation in the field of gas export, electricity link, trade facilitation, as well as the provision of food and medical assistance," Rady underscored.

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said el-Sisi demanded that the Egyptian natural gas be piped to Lebanon to help boost its electricity output and ease its crippling power crisis.

He also promised to set a date for the upcoming higher joint committee meeting.

Mikati arrived in Cairo on Thursday to start a one-day official visit.

Mikati’s visit came shortly after the resignation of Lebanese information minister George Kordahi last Friday over an old interview in which he described the war on Yemen as futile.