Egypt, Saudi Arabia to build joint bridge over Red Sea

Saudi King Salman today announced that a bridge linking his country with Egypt will be built over the Red Sea to boost trade as the two countries signed 17 agreements to enhance bilateral ties.

In his televised joint conference with Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the second-day of his visit, 80-year-old Saudi monarch said the bridge would be aimed at boosting trade exchange between the two allied countries and connecting the two countries.

President Sissi suggested naming the bridge the "King Salman bin Abdel Aziz Bridge", after the Saudi monarch.

"I agreed with my brother his Excellency President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to build a bridge connecting the two countries," Salman said.

"This historic step to connect the two continents, Africa and Asia, is a qualitative transformation that will increase trade between the two continents to unprecedented levels," he said.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed 17 agreements.