Awqaf Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa has congratulated the Sudanese people on re-electing Omar al Bashir as president of Sudan.

Sudan represents the strategic depth of Egypt the same way Egypt is to Sudan, Gomaa said in a meeting here with al Fateh Taj al Ser, his Sudanese counterpart, Wednesday.

Sharing the same religion, language and border line, the two Nile countries very well share the same fate, Gomaa said.

He made it clear that the awqaf ministries here and in Cairo have a responsibility to renew the religious discourse.

Gomaa stressed the need to act to protect youth against atheism and what he called a cultural invasion by extremist organizations. Those organizations, he said, misuse the advanced technology to reach out to youth.

The minister pressed for communication with youth in schools and through the different media outlets, as well as mosques. Seminars and camps should be organized for youth, he added.

Gomaa praised the keenness of the Sudanese Awqaf Ministry on promoting the moderate teachings of Islam and the concept of co-existence.

The Sudanese minister, for his part, hailed as "historical" and "deeply rooted" ties with Egypt.

Taj al Ser said his country refers to Egypt's Al Azhar for help to promote the moderate teachings of Islam. He praised the role played by Al Azhar scholars to support the moderate religious ideologies in Sudan in the face of extremism.

He said Gomaa's visit to Sudan is "historic". Taj al Ser stressed the importance of cooperation between Egypt and Sudan to train imams and preachers and spread the moderate teachings of Islam.