Egypt, U.S. discuss boosting military cooperation

Egyptian Defense Minister Abdel Fattah el-Seisi on Wednesday held a meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to discuss means of boosting bilateral ties, mainly in military field, state-run MENA news agency reported.

During the meeting, Seisi underlined the importance of enhancing military cooperation to consolidate security and peace in the Middle East.

For his part, Hagel hailed the "historic" role played by Egypt' s Armed Forces in protecting the Egyptian people.

Hagel arrived earlier in the day in Cairo from Saudi capital of Riyadh as part of his tour to the Middle East.

Hagel's visit aims to enhance military cooperation between the United States and its regional allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.