Trump, El-Sisi exchange vows of support, pledging to fight terrorism together

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Monday vowed support to each other, while pledging to fight terrorism together.

"I just want to let everybody know in case there was any doubt that we are very much behind President El-Sisi. He's done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation," Trump told El-Sisi at a White House meeting.

"And I just want to say to you, Mr. President, that you have a great friend and ally in the United States and in me," Trump added.

Though mentioning that they "have a few things that we don't agree on," Trump emphasized that he and El-Sisi "agree on so many things."

For his part, El-Sisi said that he had "a deep appreciation and admiration" of Trump's "unique personality, especially as you are standing very strong in the counter-terrorism field. "

The Egyptian leader condemned terrorism as an "evil ideology" that kills innocent lives and brings devastation to communities and nations.

He also vowed that Egypt will strongly support Trump in "bringing an effective strategy in the counter-terrorism."

"And I'm quite confident you will be able to bring a solution to this issue," he added.

In response, Trump said that the U.S. and Egypt will work together in fighting terrorism.

"We will do that together. We will fight terrorism and other things. And we're going to be friends for a long, long period of time," Trump said, adding that the U.S. has "a great bond" with the people of Egypt.

El-Sisi, who took office in 2014, is on his first official visit to the U.S. Trump's predecessor Barack Obama did not invite El-Sisi for a visit and even temporarily suspended U.S. aid to the Arabic country citing U.S. concerns about human rights situation in Egypt.

Trump and El-Sisi first met last September when the Egyptian leader attended the opening session of the UN General Assembly.

source: Xinhua