NEW DELHI: After completing his US state visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Egypt on his two-day visit and said he was confident that this visit will strengthen India's ties with the Arab nation.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister's Office said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Cairo, Egypt, a short while ago. In a special gesture, he was received by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the airport."
The PMO also attached photographs of the Prime Minister's arrival in Cairo.
Modi also took to Twitter and wrote: "I thank Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. May India-Egypt ties flourish and benefit the people of our nations."
"Landed in Cairo. I am confident this visit will strengthen India's ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes."
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindan Bagchi tweeted: "A momentous visit gets underway. PM Narendra Modi sets foot in Cairo for his first State visit to Egypt. Accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour upon arrival. In a special gesture, PM Mostafa Madbouly of Egypt received PM Modi at the airport."
A poem titled "Gandhi" by Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawqi on the role of Mahatma Gandhi in India's independence struggle finds centre stage at the Cairo hotel, the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stay during his visit to the country.
During this visit, PM Modi will hold strategic talks with his counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Several members of the Indian community were present at the Ritz-Carlton hotel to welcome PM Modi.
They have expressed immense excitement regarding PM Modi's arrival and have called this a proud moment.
"I have been living here for the last nine years. Although we are away from our country, here we feel that we are a part of it. We all have the passion to meet the Prime Minister, just like people have for meeting film stars. He is a hero to us. I personally feel that it (PM's visit) will be very good for both countries. It is really a proud moment," Ankush, who has been living in Egypt for the last nine years, said.
Alka Walia, who has called Cairo her home for the last 17 years, said, "This is super special. This is the first visit by an Indian PM since 1997. So the excitement level is beyond expectations. We are looking forward to seeing him. I think words are not enough to define that, whichever country he (PM Modi) has travelled to, he has made us proud. We feel lucky and excited to have PM Modi in Egypt. We are super proud as Indians".
The hotel lobby was bustling with activity ahead of the Prime Minister's arrival. PM Modi will also meet 70 people from the Indian Community residing in Egypt.
Notably, PM Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which he extended in January 2023 when he graced India's Republic Day celebrations as the 'Chief Guest.'
The Prime Minister will have various engagements with the leaders and the Indian diaspora during his visit here. He is set to hold a roundtable meeting with Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouly and also meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The Indian Ambassador to Egypt, Ajit Gupte, said on Friday that for the first time, a roundtable meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Egyptian Prime Minister will take place.
The Prime Minister will spend nearly half an hour at the Al-Hakim Mosque, a historic and prominent mosque in Cairo named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021), the 16th Fatimid caliph. The mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah is an important cultural site for the Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo.
During his first Egypt tour, the PM will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave Cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War.
The visit is of significance as Egypt has traditionally been one of India's most important trading partners on the African continent. The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favoured Nation clause, according to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). (ANI)
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