CAIRO, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday expressed Cairo's confidence in the Iraqi national institutions and political powers to overcome the challenges facing the country.

Shoukry made the comments during a meeting in Cairo with his Iraqi counterpart, spokesperson of the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Shoukry underlined Egypt's keenness to promote the bilateral ties in political, cultural and trade fields," the statement added.

The meeting touched on the recent political and security conditions in the region and the different challenges that incite more tensions, it added.

Iraqi's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who took office in Sept. 2014, is under pressure to resign as the country's oil-rich southern city of Basra experiences the worst unrest it has seen in years.

Basra's protests erupted over alleged corruption and government neglect, causing the death of 12 demonstrators.

Shoukry also reiterated Egypt's willingness to provide all kinds of support for the reconstruction of Iraq, the statement added.

The top diplomats also discussed combating terrorism and the importance of the Arab solidarity for enhancing security and stability in the region.