CAIRO - Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu highlighted on Tuesday political solutions to crises in the Middle East.

At a meeting in Cairo, Sisi and Shoygu also underlined the need for the unity and territorial integrity of countries experiencing crises to be maintained, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement, with particular reference to Syria and Libya.

They reaffirmed the necessity for the national institutions of these countries to be maintained in order for the aspirations of their people to be met and for security and stability to be restored.

Sisi and Shoygu also emphasized the need to strengthen channels of consultation and coordination on various regional issues of common interest, especially in light of those challenges in the Middle East that have implications beyond the region.

In the meeting, they discussed ways of enhancing military cooperation between Egypt and Russia, including with joint training programs, the statement said.

In the statement, Sisi highlighted his country's keenness to strengthen bilateral relations with Russia at various levels within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in the military field.

For his part, the Russian minister stressed the need for stronger military and security cooperation between Cairo and Moscow to combat terrorism and extremist ideologies.

Over the past few years, political, military and economic ties between Russia and Egypt have grown significantly. The two sides have signed contracts relating to giant projects in Egypt as well as for a number of deals for Egyptian purchases of weapons from Russia.

Xinhua