"We don't want Russia to be an alternative to anybody," Fahmi told a joint press conference with visiting Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Egypt's top diplomat said that Cairo and Moscow were looking forward to bolstering bilateral cooperation that would serve the interests of both countries.
"We look forward to continued strong and stable relations with Russia," Fahmi asserted. "We appreciate the Russian role in the Middle East. We want to reactivate the relationship that existed in the past."
Lavrov, for his part, voiced similar sentiments.
"We are strategic partners of Egypt," the Russian minister stressed. "We have had friendship with the Egyptian people for decades."
"We aren't against anybody. In today's world, we must abandon these conceptions," Lavrov insisted.
Lavrov and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu are currently on a two-day visit to Egypt – their first trip to the country since the July 3 ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi by the powerful military establishment.
The visit comes less than one month after the US decided to suspend the delivery of fighter jets, helicopters and missiles – in addition to $260 million in cash transfers – to Egypt's military-backed government until the latter took tangible steps towards inclusive democracy.
According to media reports, the Russian delegation's talks in Egypt will also cover a proposed $4 billion arms sale to Egypt.
If it goes through, the deal will be the largest since late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat cancelled a major arms deal with the then Soviet Union in 1977.
- Stable Egypt
Lavrov said that a "stable Egypt" was in Russia's best interest. "We're ready to provide help to Egypt in all fields," he said.
Russia's top diplomat went on to voice agreement with his Egyptian counterpart on the need to resume the activities of a joint ministerial committee tasked with bolstering trade and economic cooperation.
Russia has voiced support for Egypt's interim government, installed by the powerful army following Morsi's July 3 ouster.
Moscow also refrained from condemning the bloody August 14 dispersal of two pro-democracy sit-ins by Egyptian security forces, which left hundreds dead.
"Our policy isn't to interfere in the affairs of other countries," Lavrov said. "Egyptians have the right to self-determination."
Lavrov stressed that Russian tourists continued to visit Egypt in large numbers despite the ongoing turmoil in the country.
He noted that 100 flights carried Russian tourists to the Egyptian Red Sea resort cities of Sharm al-Sheikh and Hurghada each week.
An Egyptian Tourism Ministry official told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that around 1.7 million Russian tourists had visited Egypt between January and August of this year, generating some $1.2 billion in revenue.
By Amr Emam
