CAIRO, Nov 19 (KUNA) -- Egyptian President Abdullfattah Al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday joined, through video conference, a ceremony to place the containment structure of the first reactor at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant in northern Egypt.
In his speech during the ceremony, Al-Sisi said starting work on the containment structure marks "a new page in Egypt's history," thanking Putin for his "historic" participation and continued support for this strategic project.
Egypt and Russia have also signed a nuclear fuel supply agreement to ensure the reactor's long-term operation, he noted.
He underscored that the project is the result of joint efforts and strong strategic ties between Egypt and Russia, built on mutual respect and common interests and extending back to the 1960s.
Reaching this milestone, he added, shows that cooperation is not only political but also involves real projects that benefit both people.
Peaceful nuclear energy, he said, will give Egypt a stable power source even during crises such as high fuel prices.
Meanwhile, in a speech, Putin said Egypt attaches great importance not only to the El-Dabaa peaceful nuclear project, but also to broader cooperation and the ongoing friendship between the two countries.
Putin described the plant's construction with Russian participation as a success, and said they are moving into a key new phase to strengthen the plant's capabilities with modern technology to meet Egypt's energy and economic needs.
He recalled that Soviet experts had previously helped develop Egypt's economy in sectors such as industry, energy, and infrastructure, including the High Dam and Helwan industrial complex, which still serve the Egyptian people.
Putin expressed confidence that relations will continue to grow stronger, noting that bilateral trade has already risen by about one-third compared with last year, along with work to establish a Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
The El-Dabaa plant is being built by Russian state nuclear company Rosatom under a 2015 intergovernmental agreement and will consist of four units with a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts. (end) asm.lr