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UK, Egypt sign memoranda of understanding

LONDON, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry signed here on Friday night a number of memoranda of understanding committing the two countries to a regular high-level dialogue to increase cooperation across a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration and organised crime.
The two sides signed a MoU on cooperation across research, innovation, health training, cultural collaboration, and higher education. Under the agreement, the UK and Egypt will establish an Egyptian Higher Education Regulatory and Funding Agency (HERFA) based on UK experience, a partnership with Cambridge Assessment on examination standards, and a development programme for leaders in Egyptian universities.
The agreement also commits the UK and Egypt to share best practice in Heritage Science and vocational training, and increases support on health education and medical training for Egyptian health professionals.
Commenting on the documents, Secretary Hammond said: "These wide-ranging Memoranda of Understanding will launch a new stage in our British-Egyptian partnership for stability and reform." "On security, in recognition of our shared interests in countering terrorism, illegal migration, and organised crime, Home Office officials and their Egyptian counterparts will engage in a regular and strategic dialogue to foster greater collaboration in these areas, which are of vital importance to both our countries," he revealed.
"In a clear commitment to Egypt's young people and their country's future, we will cooperate more closely to help transform Egypt's higher education sector. "This builds on our already extensive cooperation with Egypt, including the GBP 23.8 million Newton-Mosharafa Fund which will bring the benefits of a British education to over 300 Egyptian PhD students over the next five years," he added. (pickup previous) mrn.gb