BAGHDAD: In a bid to enhance economic relationship, security cooperation and regional stability, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan took a step toward to holding tripartite talks in Baghdad on Sunday, in a first visit by an Egyptian head of state to the country in 30 years. Talks ranged from trade to Mideast crises.

Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was greeted by Iraq’s President Barham Salih upon arriving Sunday morning. It marked the first time an Egyptian president paid an official visit to Iraq since the 1990s when ties between both countries were severed after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

Iraq Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi also aims to shore up regional alliances and bolster Iraq’s standing in the Middle East as a mediator capable of bringing even the staunchest of foes to the negotiating table. Baghdad recently hosted talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia focusing on the war in Yemen. He said that the most important challenges facing the three countries are the Covid-19 pandemic, difficult economic conditions, security and terrorism, according to the statement.

Calling on the three countries to unify their stances, Al-Kadhimi said: "we will continue to coordinate on major regional issues, such as the Syrian, Libyan, Yemeni and Palestinian files, to assist our brothers in these countries to bypass the challenges and crises." He noted that the three countries are in the stage of implementing projects in the fields of electrical interconnection, agriculture, transportation, and food security, as well as in the development of infrastructure in financial and banking relations, the statement said.

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