Tunis, Jan. 31 (TAP) - President Kais Saied met British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy at the Carthage Palace on Friday, who is making a working visit to Tunisia.

President Saied highlighted the long-standing relations between Tunisia and the United Kingdom, which date back to the 17th century, predating the establishment of the Husainid dynasty, according to a statement from the Presidency.

He reviewed key historical milestones, starting with the treaty signed on October 5, 1662, between Hammuda Pasha Murad and King Charles II, and culminating in the historic state visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Tunisia in 1980.

The President emphasised that Tunisian-British bilateral relations are "strong and steadfast," noting that while the current level of cooperation is significant, it still requires further development and enhancement across all fields, particularly in priority sectors such as economy, investment, trade, security, energy, and education.

In this context, President Saied underscored Tunisia's commitment to the education sector, pointing out that the establishment of a Higher Education Council reflects Tunisia's firm belief that knowledge and free thought are the first lines of defense against all forms of extremism and terrorism.

He added that cooperation between friends, both bilaterally and multilaterally, is essential to address the various challenges facing societies and nations at the regional and international levels.

«This cooperation should be based on innovative approaches and new concepts that place humanity at the center of everything, especially as the world is now experiencing a phase entirely different from previous eras.»

The President of the Republic noted that the global community is undergoing a challenging transformation toward the emergence of a more humanistic society, one that is advancing in its vision beyond the traditional international community. This new society believes in the values of freedom, justice, and dignity, recognizing the unity of humanity and the need to respect, preserve, and protect it at all times and in all places.

In this regard, the Head of State pointed out that the humanistic community's response to the genocide and deliberate deprivation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people has been stronger, faster, and more unified than that of the traditional international community.

He also highlighted other challenges and risks facing the region, which affect its stability and development, such as terrorism and inhumane migration managed by transnational criminal networks. These issues necessitate greater and more comprehensive cooperation than ever before, with a focus on human dignity and innovative approaches.

President Saied stressed the importance of collective efforts to dismantle these networks and provide opportunities for a dignified life, particularly in countries of origin, so that victims can return to their homelands and enjoy dignity, security, and stability.

For his part, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his hope that President Saied would visit the United Kingdom, where he could deliver a lecture at the University of Oxford in London on the new humanistic political thought, both within nations and on a global scale.

Earlier in the day, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Lammy's visit "aims to strengthen Tunisian-British friendship and cooperation, which have seen steady development, particularly since the signing of the Association Agreement between the two countries in 2019."

The Ministry also noted that this visit would provide an opportunity to exchange views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest.