Politics

PM Modi welcomes Egyptian President El-Sisi on his arrival in India

The visit marks the first time that the President of Egypt has been invited as the chief guest on India’s Republic Day

January 25, 2023

President Sisi is to be the chief guest at the 74th Republic Day function on Thursday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a warm welcome to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who arrived here on a three-day state visit from January 24 to 26. Sisi would be the chief guest at the 74th Republic Day function on Thursday, as India and Egypt commemorate 75 glorious years of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

The visit marks the first time that the President of Egypt has been invited as the chief guest on India’s Republic Day. Egypt and India maintain strong ties, with the latter inviting Cairo as a “guest country” during its G20 Presidency.

El-Sisi will get a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where he will meet his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and other notable figures, according to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

El-Sisi arrived in New Delhi with a retinue comprising five ministers and top officials for a four-day visit from January 24 to 27.

PM Modi tweeted, “Warm welcome to India, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Your historic visit to India as Chief Guest for our Republic Day celebrations is a matter of immense happiness for all Indians. Look forward to our discussions tomorrow.”

Warm welcome to India, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Your historic visit to India as Chief Guest for our Republic Day celebrations is a matter of immense happiness for all Indians. Look forward to our discussions tomorrow. @AlsisiOfficial

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 24, 2023

“This is for the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as chief guest on our Republic Day. A military contingent from the Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade,” the ministry said in a statement. “The forthcoming visit of President Sisi is expected to further strengthen and deepen the time-tested partnership between India and Egypt,” it added.

India and Egypt have “warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties”, the ministry said. On Wednesday, the Egyptian President will then go on to lay a wreath at Rajghat, the memorial of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.

During his visit, El-Sisi will also hold a meeting with PM Modi to discuss important bilateral matters and major issues around the world. The day will conclude with President Murmu hosting a state banquet for the dignitary. Welcoming the Egyptian leader to India, Prime Minister Modi said, “Your historic visit to India as chief guest for our Republic Day celebrations is a matter of immense happiness for all Indians. Look forward to our discussions tomorrow.”

[With Inputs from IANS]

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