Cairo  - Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit briefed his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini on Egypt's role as France's main partner in the Euro-Mediterranean union, an Egyptian spokesman said Thursday.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said that Thursday's talks, held during Frattini's visit to Cairo, focused on the most recent developments in the Middle East, particularly regarding the peace process.

Zaki said the foreign ministers focused on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in light of Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's win of the ruling Kadima party elections on Wednesday. They also discussed Egypt's role as a mediator between Palestinian factions.

Egypt has been holding bilateral meetings with delegations representing the different Palestinian factions since the beginning of September. An all-inclusive meeting is expected to be held at the end of October.

"Frattini has expressed his country's and the European Union's appreciation for Egypt's positive role in the peace process in the Middle East," Zaki said, adding that the discussions also included the situations in Lebanon, Sudan and Somalia.

Abul Gheit and Frattini also discussed ways to develop bilateral relations, focusing on foreign policy concerns of common interest and economic and cultural cooperation, Zaki added.

Italy is one of Egypt's main European trade partner, with about 3.9 billion euro of trade in 2007.

Frattini's visit to Cairo comes after Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak's visit to Sardinia last June. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is expected to visit Egypt on October 24. (dpa)