CAIRO, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Egypt, Hungary on Tuesday discussed in Cairo means of promoting the bilateral ties and cooperation, as well as facing the common challenges of terrorism and illegal immigration.

"Egypt has exerted great efforts to stop the illegal immigration from the Egyptian lands to Europe," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said at a joint press conference with the visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.

The two officials discussed means of promoting the bilateral ties and cooperation in several fields in light of the consensus between the two sides in regional and international issues, Shoukry added.

For his part, Peter Szijjarto said Egypt closed its shores over the past six years for preventing illegal immigration to Europe, adding that Egypt deserves all support from the EU.

"Hungary will benefit from Egyptian natural gas after building a pipeline from Greece to Budapest," he added, noting that his country seeks to expand economic cooperation with Egypt in fields of building water pumpers, developing ports, and peaceful nuclear activities.

The two countries signed a memo of understanding in the fields of developmental and agricultural cooperation.

The visit also saw the inauguration of a joint project in the railways' field, as Hungary will provide Egypt with 1,300 train carriages.