India sees Egypt as a bridge between Asia and Africa: President Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee has asserted that India sees Egypt as a major power in the West Asia and North Africa region, a bridge between Asia and Africa and a prominent player in Africa and the Arab world.

President Mukherjee made these comments on Friday when he received Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He also hosted a banquet in his honour.

Welcoming his Egyptian counterpart, President Mukherjee said that both the countries enjoy historic and civilizational ties.

"The two countries have together contributed and continue to facilitate peace and development in the region and beyond," he said.

He expressed confidence that Sisi's visit and such exchanges would strengthen India-Egypt partnership and take it to a higher level.

 

"India is happy to see Egypt progress towards political stability and economic development under the leadership of Mr. Sisi," he said.

Subsequently, in his banquet speech, President Mukherjee said the high esteem in which the founding fathers held each other- Tagore and Shawky, Gandhi and Zaghloul, Nehru and Nasser has inspired India-Egypt partnership and shaped the way the two countries have collaborated bilaterally and in multilateral fora as two independent nations.

President Mukherjee said the visit of President Sisi is taking place at a time when both India and Egypt desire to infuse a new momentum into their relations and intensify co-operation.

"Economic engagement between the two countries has been growing stronger through investments and enhanced trade flows as well as partnership in a wide range of areas of common interest. India and Egypt share a convergence on regional and global issues. New modes of co-operation and

collaboration are emerging and new actors are rapidly entering the stage. While we take satisfaction in the state of our relations, we must continue to strive to achieve higher milestones," he said.