India and Egypt have elevated their relationship to Strategic Partnership covering political, security, defence, energy and economic cooperation with the two countries agreeing that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade, held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and the two countries decided to take bilateral trade to 12 billion dollars in the next five years.
The two leaders also held extensive discussions on strengthening the food and pharma supply chains affected by the COVID and the Ukraine conflict.
In his remarks to the media after his talks with the Egyptian leader, the Prime Minister said India and Egypt are worried about the spread of terrorism happening around the world.
“We are unanimous in the opinion that terrorism is the most serious security threat to humanity. Both countries also agree that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism. And for this, together we will continue to try to alert the international community,” PM Modi said.
He said there is also immense potential for enhancing security and defence cooperation.
“In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in joint exercise training and capacity building between our armies. We have also decided in today’s meeting to further strengthen cooperation between our defence industries, and enhance the exchange of information and intelligence related to counter-terrorism,” he said.
The two countries also decided to extend cooperation against misuse of cyber space to spread extremist ideologies and radicalization.
“We also agreed on the need to increase mutual investment and trade in these areas. Together we have decided that in the next five years we will take our bilateral trade to 12 billion dollars,” PM Modi said.
Noting that India and Egypt are among the oldest civilizations in the world, PM Modi said the two countries have had a continuing relationship for thousands of years.
“More than 4,000 years ago, trade with Egypt used to take place through the Lothal Port of Gujarat. And despite various changes in the world, our relations have been stable, and our cooperation has been continuously strengthened,” he said.
“Our cooperation has deepened in the last few years. And for this, I would like to give a huge credit to the able leadership of my friend President Sisi.”
This year, India has invited Egypt as a guest country during its G-20 Presidency, which reflects our special friendship.
“At one side of the Arabian Sea is India and on the other side is Egypt. Strategic cooperation between the two countries will help in promoting peace and prosperity in the entire region. So in today’s meeting, President Sisi and I decided to elevate our bilateral partnership to the level of ‘Strategic Partnership’.”
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