Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India has decided to elevate bilateral relations with Egypt to a strategic partnership.
"We've decided that under India-Egypt Strategic Partnership we will develop a long-term framework for greater cooperation in the fields of politics, security, economics and science," PM Modi said at a joint press conference after holding wide-ranging talks with visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
India and Egypt also today exchanged MoUs in the fields of cyber security, culture, information technology, youth matters and broadcasting.
PM Modi and President Sisi also witnessed the release exchange of commemorative postage stamps to mark the milestone of 75 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Egypt.
The commemorative postal stamp was exchanged between Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology of India and Dr. Amr Ahmed Samih Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt.
El-Sisi who arrived in Delhi on Tuesday on a three-day visit, is the chief guest for the 2023 Republic Day Parade.
Addressing the joint press meet at Hyderabad House here, PM Modi said, "We have also decided in today's meeting to further strengthen cooperation between our defence industries, and to increase exchange of counter-terrorism information and intelligence."
He said that India and Egypt will take strong action to control cross-border terrorism. "India and Egypt are concerned about terrorism. Both countries agree that strong actions must be taken to control cross-border terrorism. During the Covid outbreak, we worked together to meet the requirements of both countries," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister also said that they have decided to take the bilateral trade between India and Egypt to USD 12 billion in the next five years.
He added that there has been an increase in Joint exercise training and capacity building between India and Egypt. "We'll also cooperate on misuse of cyberspace that helps in spreading extremism and radicalisation. We also held discussions on supply chain that was disrupted due to COVID and Ukraine crisis," PM Modi said.
He welcomed Sisi and his delegation to India and said that Sisi will be the Chief Guest on India's Republic Day. "I am happy that the Egyptian military contingent will also be participating in the parade," he said.
"India and Egypt are two of the oldest civilisations. There is a history of trade relations between our two countries. In the last few years, our bilateral ties have deepened. This year Egypt has been invited as a special guest at the upcoming G20 meeting," the prime minister said.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El -Sisi meanwhile has invited Prime Minister Modi to Cairo to take the ties between the two countries forward.
"I met PM Modi in 2015 in New York and I had full confidence in him. I knew he will take his nation forward. I have invited Prime Minister Modi to Cairo, Egypt to take our relationship forward," the Egyptian President said in the joint press conference today.
Earlier in the day, the Egyptian President was accorded a Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan where he was welcomed by President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi. "I expect through this visit that we take our bilateral level to a whole new horizon, where we can reach the relationship and partnership between the two countries at all levels. I look with great esteem to the sustainable development experience of India," he said.
( With inputs from ANI )
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