First: The Egyptian role in establishing an International Islamic entity

In modern history, some Egyptian religious and political figures believed in the necessity of establishing an Islamic entity with an international character. They exerted sincere efforts at the beginning of the twentieth century to materialize such notion. Actually, the first indications of their success began to materialize after World War I, particularly when Egypt participated in a series of Islamic conferences, such as the one held in Mecca in 1924 and the Islamic world conference in 1926, as well as the General Islamic conference hosted by Egypt in May 1926, which was one of the first conferences calling for the unity of the Islamic world.

Second: Egypt and the 1st Islamic Ministerial Conference

Being enthusiastic to establish that International Islamic entity, Egypt participated in the first Islamic Ministerial conference held in Jeddah in March 1970. That Conference was entrusted by the Rabat Summit to assess the possibility of establishing a permanent general secretariat, which would be authorized to contact the Governments represented in Jeddah conference, and to consider drafting a charter for a new Islamic organization. As a matter of fact, the Jeddah conference became a significant turning point in the history of the Islamic world when it approved the establishment of an entity named “The Organization of the Islamic Conference”.

Egypt's participation in the various OIC meetings is always characterized by being active and serious towards resolving the problems confronting the Islamic countries. For Example, during the Second Islamic Ministerial conference in Karachi in December 1970, Egypt submitted a proposal for establishing an Islamic bank and a union of Islamic banks. Accordingly, Egypt was asked to prepare a comprehensive study of the project which was later submitted to the Third session of the Islamic Ministerial conference in Jeddah in March 1972, where it was decided to establish the “Islamic Development Bank”. Egypt was also a member of the committee held in Jeddah from the 21st till the 23rd of June 1971 with the aim of preparing a draft charter for the OIC, which was later adopted by the Third Ministerial conference in Jeddah in March 1972.

Third: Egypt's participation in the OIC activities

Egypt participated in the Makkah-hosted Islamic summit in August 2012.

President Mohamed Morsi delivered a speech to stress the importance of cohesion between Egypt, Saudia Arabia, Turkey and Iran in solving the Syrian crisis.

Morsi also stressed that the Palestinian cause is the primary issue for Egypt and for the Arab and Islamic countries, calling on the Palestinians to be unified to achieve national reconciliation.

It is noteworthy that the Ministerial Preparatory Meeting for the 11th OIC Summit unanimously supported Egypt to host the 12th OIC Summit to be held in 2013. Egypt also will be handed the presidency of the summit for the coming three years (2013–2016).

Fourth: Egypt's vision to develop joint Islamic cooperation

Egypt will remain keen in developing joint Islamic cooperation, which stems from its deep belief in the common destiny of the Islamic countries and the necessity of revitalizing the principles and the noble objectives of the OIC, so as to enable this important institution to deal ably with the different challenges facing the Islamic nation.