Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi here and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people connect. El-Sisi welcomed Modi, who is on a two-day state visit to Egypt, at the Presidential Palace where the two leaders were closeted for one-on-one meeting.

India and Egypt solidified their bilateral relationship with the signing of a strategic partnership agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Cairo. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi honored Modi with the prestigious Order of the Nile, recognizing the historic nature of the visit. The two leaders engaged in bilateral talks, discussing various areas of cooperation and signing several agreements.

“It is with great humility that I accept the ‘Order of the Nile’. I thank the Government and people of Egypt for this honour. It indicates the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation,” Prime Minister Modi said after receiving the honour.

“The four agreements that were signed during the visit (June 24-25) of the honourable Prime Minister — first, the most important, and a landmark development in the history of [the] bilateral relationship was the signature on the strategic partnership between India and Egypt. It was signed by the Honourable Prime Minister Modi and the Honourable President El Sisi of Egypt,” Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra announced.

One of the key agreements was the strategic partnership between India and Egypt, which marked a significant milestone in their bilateral relationship. The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Modi and President El-Sisi. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra highlighted the importance of green and renewable collaboration in the future partnership, given the shared commitment to clean energy.

Additionally, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the fields of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed these developments and also mentioned that multilateral cooperation at the G-20 and other topics such as food security, energy security, and climate change were discussed.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi received the Order of the Nile from President Sisi, a special gesture symbolizing the warm relations between the two countries. In expressing his gratitude, Modi acknowledged the honor as an indication of the strong bond between India and Egypt.

The official discussions between the two leaders took place at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, where they recognized the significance of the newly established “India Unit” in the Egyptian Cabinet as a valuable mechanism for driving bilateral collaborations. Prime Minister Modi and President Sisi engaged in a one-on-one conversation, underscoring the personal nature of their interaction.

Prime Minister Modi also paid tribute to Indian soldiers who lost their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I by visiting the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery. Additionally, he met with members of the Indian community and visited the Al Hakim mosque as part of his itinerary.

In a meeting with Egyptian author and petroleum strategist Tarek Heggy on Saturday, discussions encompassed various topics including radicalism and gender equality. The objective of these meetings was to foster stronger people-to-people exchanges between India and Egypt.

Egypt has been designated a “guest country” for the upcoming G-20 summit in September, and President Sisi is expected to attend. This designation further emphasizes the importance of the bilateral relationship between India and Egypt.

Overall, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Egypt marked a significant milestone, with the signing of the strategic partnership agreement and the recognition of their strong ties. The visit also aimed to enhance cooperation and engagement between the two nations, paving the way for a more vibrant relationship.