PM, Egyptian President discuss trade, defence and security | Modi visits 11th century mosque in Cairo
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Sunday, June 25 signed a pact to elevate the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a “strategic partnership”.
Meeting for the second time in less than six months, this time in Egypt, the two leaders identified areas like trade and investment, IT, defence and security, renewable energy, agriculture, health, culture and people-to-people ties for deeper cooperation.
On the second day in Cairo, PM Modi was received by Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace. In a special ceremony, Sisi conferred PM Modi with the Order of the Nile, the highest civilian award of Egypt. This was the 13th state honour conferred on PM Modi.
The two sides also signed three MoUs in the fields of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities and competition law.
The two leaders agreed that the newly established “India Unit” in Egyptian Cabinet was a useful tool in steering bilateral collaborations. They will have another chancce to review bilateral ties when Sisi arrives here for the G20 summit as a special invitee during India’s Presidency.
In fact, a meeting with the India Unit was the PM’s first engagement after arriving in Cairo on Saturday.
The Chairman of the India Unit, the Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly and his Cabinet colleagues outlined to PM Modi the proposed new areas of cooperation.
On Sunday, the PM visited the Al-Hakim mosque after which he went to Heliopolis War Cemetery and paid tributes to the 4,300 Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I.
He also met leaders of the Bohra community who fund the upkeep of this Fatimid era Shia mosque. Egypt is about 90 per cent Sunni and both Bohras and Shias form small minorities.
The PM also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Ibrahim Allam on Saturday. Discussions also focused on countering extremism and radicalisation, stated the MEA.
PM Modi also met Tarek Heggy, a renowned author and petroleum strategist. Theb PM also talked to yoga instructors Reem Jabak and Nada Adel
‘Order of Nile’ conferred on Modi
- PM Modi was conferred with ‘Order of the Nile’, Egypt’s highest honour, by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
- The honour is conferred upon heads of states who offer Egypt or the humanity their invaluable services
- “The honour indicates the warmth the government and the people of Egypt have towards India,” Modi tweeted
PM visits 11th-century mosque in Cairo
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Egypt’s historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo
The PM also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery and offered tributes to the Indian soldiers who bravely fought and laid down their lives in Egypt and Palestine during the World War-I. PTI
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