Minister of Higher Education Highlights the Depth of the Egyptian–French Strategic Partnership and Praises the Continuous Development of Bilateral Cooperation
52 Cooperation Agreements and More Than 80 Joint Academic and Research Projects Strengthen Partnership in Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation
Dr. Abdel Aziz Qonsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, participated on behalf of Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, in the reception hosted by the Embassy of the French Republic in Cairo to celebrate France’s National Day. The event was attended by Mr. Eric Chevallier, Ambassador of France to the Arab Republic of Egypt, along with a number of ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, senior officials, and public figures.
During the celebration, Dr. Abdel Aziz Qonsowa delivered a speech on behalf of the Prime Minister, conveying the greetings of the Arab Republic of Egypt—its leadership, government, and people—to His Excellency President Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, as well as to the government and friendly people of France on the occasion of the National Day. He expressed his sincere wishes for France’s continued progress and prosperity and for further growth and development in Egyptian–French relations.
Dr. Qonsowa affirmed that France’s National Day represents an opportunity to recall the long-standing history of friendship and cooperation between Egypt and France, as well as the strong relations built upon years of civilizational, cultural, and scientific exchange. He highlighted the historical ties extending from the contributions of French scientist Jean-François Champollion in deciphering the secrets of ancient Egyptian civilization to the current era of comprehensive strategic partnership, under the shared political will of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and President Emmanuel Macron.
The Minister noted that President Emmanuel Macron’s recent official visit to Egypt represented a significant milestone in the development of bilateral relations, reflecting the mutual trust and shared visions between the two countries. The visit culminated in the signing of a joint declaration to elevate relations to the level of strategic partnership, opening broad prospects for expanding cooperation across various fields.
Dr. Qonsowa emphasized that higher education and scientific research represent key pillars of the strategic partnership between Egypt and France, based on the firm belief that investment in human capital is the true foundation for achieving sustainable development.
The Minister explained that the inauguration of the new campus of Université Senghor in New Borg El Arab City represents a pioneering model of Egyptian–French cooperation in serving the African continent and the Francophone world, while strengthening Egypt’s role as a regional hub for education and capacity building.
He added that the French University in Egypt represents an advanced model of academic partnership between the two countries. He pointed out that university and scientific cooperation witnessed unprecedented momentum during President Emmanuel Macron’s first visit to Egypt in April 2025, during which 42 agreements were signed between Egyptian and French universities and academic institutions. The number later increased to 52 agreements and letters of intent, resulting in the launch of more than 80 joint academic and research projects across various fields.
Dr. Qonsowa stressed that these partnerships include the development of joint and dual-degree programs and the alignment of academic programs with the actual needs of the labor market and priority economic and industrial sectors. He emphasized that the value of these partnerships is not measured solely by the number of agreements and programs, but by their ability to create a tangible impact on the lives of students, researchers, and society.
The Minister expressed his aspiration for a new phase of Egyptian–French cooperation focused on transforming scientific research outputs and innovation into practical applications, products, and marketable technological solutions. This includes supporting joint research, business incubators, innovation accelerators, startups, and the establishment of technology valleys to enhance cooperation between universities, research institutions, and industrial sectors in both countries.
Dr. Qonsowa also highlighted cooperation in archaeology, heritage, and culture through the work of French archaeological missions, the leading scientific role of the Institut français d'archéologie orientale, and collaboration on major cultural projects, including the Grand Egyptian Museum. He emphasized that these efforts reflect the shared belief of both countries that protecting and preserving human heritage is a collective responsibility.
The Minister added that the Egyptian–French partnership extends beyond education and culture to include economic cooperation, energy, transportation, infrastructure, technology, and other fields. He noted that positive indicators of trade exchange and joint investments reflect the strength of bilateral relations and their promising future prospects.
Dr. Qonsowa further emphasized Egypt and France’s commitment to continuing coordination and consultation on various regional and international issues of mutual interest, based on the importance of dialogue, respect for international law, and support for efforts aimed at achieving security, stability, and peace. He noted that this reflects the growing convergence between the two countries on numerous regional and global issues.
At the conclusion of his speech, Dr. Abdel Aziz Qonsowa renewed Egypt’s congratulations to the French Republic on its National Day, reaffirming Egypt’s pride in the continuous development of Egyptian–French relations and expressing the aspiration to continue joint efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership in a way that serves the shared interests of both countries and peoples and contributes to supporting security, stability, and development at the regional and international levels.
