King Salman of Saudi Arabia and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt have agreed to construct a bridge across the Red Sea, linking not just the two nations, but the two continents Asia and Africa.

The two countries estimate that it will costaround $3-$4 billion to build the bridge to enhance trade between two nations. President el-Sisi said the bridge would be named "King Salman bin Abdel Aziz Bridge," after the Saudi monarch. A Red Sea bridge linking the two countries has been proposed number of times in the past, but has not become a reality.

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"I agreed with my brother his Excellency President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to build a bridge connecting the two countries. This historic step to connect the two continents, Africa, and Asia, is a qualitative transformation that will increase trade between the two continents to unprecedented levels," King Salman said in a statement. Both countries also hope this initiative of linking the Red Sea will provide strength to the tourism industry and will boost the mobility of pilgrims visiting Saudi's holy sites.

Saudi Arabia considers Egypt an important partner in an attempt to make a group of Sunni Muslim states to counter the mounting regional influence of Shia-led Iran. King Salman's visit to Cairo comes amid recent strains in the relationship between the two nations, with Egyptian President el-Sisi taking a less hard-line stance against Syrian President Bashar al Assad. In the past, Riyadh came to the rescue of Cairo, particularly after the Muslim Brotherhood was ousted from power in 2013.

The two countries also signed number of other agreements on trade, shipping and education.

TagsThe king Salman of Saudi Arabia, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of Egypt, Red Sea linking