CAIRO, August 19. /TASS/. Egyptian Defense Minister Mohamed Ahmed Zaki has set off for an official visit to Russia, the Sada al-Balad media outlet said, adding that the minister is accompanied by a high-ranking military delegation.

While in Russia, Zaki is expected to participate in the fifth meeting of the Joint Russian-Egyptian Military Commission and the Army 2018 International Military and Technical Forum, scheduled to take place at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Park outside Moscow on August 21-26.

According to the news outlet, the Egyptian defense minister will also hold talks with high-ranking officials at the Russian Defense Ministry, discussing issues of mutual interest concerning cooperation between the two countries’ militaries.