Egypt president launches 1st Arab African Youth Platform in Aswan

ASWAN, Egypt, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi opened on Saturday the first edition of the Arab African Youth Platform in Aswan governorate in Upper Egypt.

During the events of the platform, which will conclude on Monday, 1,500 youths from various Arab and African countries will discuss the future of scientific research and healthcare, as well as the impact of advanced technology and innovation on Africa and the Arab region.

Participants will have the chance to discuss various topics of concern to both Arab and African youths, with the aim of fostering Arab and African cooperation.

The platform will also hold various sessions, workshops, and roundtable seminars, with the goal of bridging the gap between "young promising leaders and top policy and decision makers."

The event was first initiated by President Sisi during the closing session of the second edition of the World Youth Forum that took place in Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh city in November last year.

The platform comes weeks after Egypt's Sisi took over the African Union (AU) presidency from his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame. It is the first time that Egypt is elected AU chair since the launch of the African bloc in 2002.