20 August 2006… Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs embarked on an Asian tour, upon instructions from the Egyptian Foreign Minister, during the period from 1-15 August 2006. The tour included Brunei, Pakistan, the Maldives and Indonesia. The Assistant Foreign Minister met with the Foreign Ministers of Brunei, Pakistan, Indonesia and delivered written messages from the Egyptian Foreign Minister with invitations to visit Egypt as soon as possible. The Assistant Minister also delivered a similar message to the Maldivian Deputy Foreign Minister during the latter’s visit to Maldives. The Assistant’s visit included holding the first round of political consultations with Brunei, the third round of consultations with Pakistan, and the third round of political consultations with Indonesia, whereas the Assistant Foreign Minister paid a bilateral visit to the Maldives. The first bilateral round of consultations with Pakistan is of special importance at this particular timing, as it comes before the Minister’s scheduled visit to Pakistan in October 2006, during which a new round of consultations for the joint Egyptian –Pakistani committee will be held. The political consultations with Indonesia also acquires importance at that timing since it comes within the framework of the preparations for a new session of the joint Egyptian – Indonesian committee scheduled to be held at the beginning of 2007 in Jakarta (the Egyptian Minister of international cooperation will head the Egyptian side), the session is synchronising with the two countries’ celebration of the 60th anniversary of establishing Egyptian –Indonesian relations in 1947. The tour presented an opportunity for exchanging viewpoints in the four countries on how to reinforce relations between Egypt and these countries in all fields, it also provided the opportunity for exploring methods of establishing new relations between a number of bilateral institutions as well as promoting foreign investment and tourism in Egypt. It also was an opportunity for exchanging views on different regional and international issues of common interest, especially that it was at the moment of the renewal of the Israeli offensive on the Palestinian and Lebanese People , and holding the emergency Ministerial meeting for the Arab League Ministerial Council in Beirut and the extraordinary summit of the Executive council of the Organization of the Islamic conference in Botragia, as well as the adoption of Security Council resolution 1701 , which provided the opportunity to explain Egypt’s relevant stances to the 4 countries’ officials who were greatly interested in getting acquainted with these stances . The tour also provided the opportunity for the Assistant Foreign Minister to meet with Azharite delegate members from Brunei and the Maladives. The Assistant Foreign Minister’s tour reemphasizes the importance of the Asian dimension in Egypt’s foreign policy and the keenness of the Egyptian Diplomacy to ensure the continuation of exchanged visits and activating exsisting mechanisms  within the bilateral relations, through forms of political consultations, joint-committees, or others.