Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has said that Egypt values its friendship and strong bonds with India. 

For centuries, the peoples of these two ancient civilizations have engaged in cultural and economic exchanges.

In the modern era, our leaders Saad Zaghloul and Mahatma Gandhi struggled against colonialism in the quest for freedom and national independence, Sisi told The Times of India.

My second visit to India in almost a year demonstrates the level of political engagement between the two countries as they endeavor to strengthen their cooperation.

To this end, consultations and exchanging views on issues pertaining to international peace and security, counterterrorism, sustainable development and multilateral organisation reforms are among the key issues of mutual interest for both countries, Sisi said.

Moreover, enhancing economic relations is an important objective that we seek to achieve. Indian investments in Egypt amount to $3 billion in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles among others, he added.

Sisi stressed that Egypt, which has free trade agreements with Arab, African and European regions, provides a great opportunity for more Indian investments.

Cultural exchange and people-to-people relations represent another aspect of engagement, essential to forging a long-lasting friendship. Egyptians enjoy various activities brought by the annual festival of ‘India by the Nile’, and soon Indians will get a flavor of Egyptian culture during the first festival of ‘Egypt by the Ganga’.

The millions of young people who swarmed into Tahrir Square in January 2011 demanding social justice, and who revolted again in June 2013 asking for a more inclusive political system that upholds human rights and freedoms and preserves the Egyptian national identity, have forged the path for Egypt’s transition to democracy, the president further said.

Al Azhar institution is a beacon of moderate Islam and plays a key role in rectifying the religious discourse in order to reflect the real essence and virtues of Islam, which calls for tolerance, peace and acceptance of the Other, Sisi told the paper.

Egypt is pursuing a balanced foreign policy towards its partners and aims to address the challenges that the Middle East currently faces. We believe that the stalemate in the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis must end, Sisi said. A just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian State, is the only way to resolve the conflict that has raged for over half a century, he added.

Reaching political solutions to the ongoing crises in Syria, Libya, and Yemen is of paramount importance and is vital to bring an end to the bloodshed and the human suffering of their peoples and preserve the unity and territorial integrity of these countries, Sisi said. 

I consider India a strategic partner that we look forward to cooperating with to achieve our common goals, contribute to maintaining international peace and create a secure and better future for our peoples and the next generations, he noted.

Source: MENA