America's top diplomat is in Cairo, the first stop of his Middle East tour. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reaffirmed Washington's support for Egypt's anti-terrorism efforts. It's one of the many issues on the agenda. Tillerson is also set to head to Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. CGTN's Adel El-Mahrouky reports.

Rex Tillerson's visit aims to align the United States and Egypt on regional and global issues. Presidents Donald Trump and Abdel Fattah EL Sisi have been trying to improve their relationship. But a year into Trump's presidency, not ALL issues have been resolved. For Cairo, the Palestinian crisis is one of these.

SAMEH SHOUKRY EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER "We've once again stressed the importance of reaching a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict -- a two-state solution -- and the importance of America continuing its efforts to solve the standoff. We must end this conflict to stabilize the region."

Tillerson's arrival comes just days after the Egyptian army declared a nationwide operation against militant groups. Cairo says its counterterrorism campaigns have been affected by Washington's partial freeze on military assistance.

REX TILLERSON US SECRETARY OF STATE "The commitment the United States has to Egypt's security and the fight against terrorism should be evident. Both with the release of about a billion dollars for military, so financing assistance to Egypt continue to enhance its capabilities and also sharing of other approaches to counter terrorism, some of which we can talk about others we can't, but our joint commitment to defeat ISIS is steadfast."

For its part, Washington has been pressing Cairo to take a firmer stance on the DPRK's nuclear arms development program.

SAMEH SHOUKRY EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER "Egypt has standard diplomatic ties with the DPRK -- as do many Western NATO members. Those relations are limited to representation. There are no economic or other areas of cooperation. But we are concerned by the threat of the proliferation of nuclear weapons."

ADEL EL MAHROUKY CAIRO, EGYPT "Rex Tillerson's trip to the Middle East comes as new conflicts continue to emerge in the region. Here in Egypt, he seems to have had some success. Officials say the two countries have aligned their approaches to resolving regional crises. AMA CGTN C, E."