New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply moved by the warm welcome from the India diaspora in Egypt and that their support showed the timeless relation between the two nations. PM Modi was greeted with a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Cairo airport. He was received by his Egyptian counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly.
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi 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.”
Meanwhile, the Indian community in Egypt eagerly awaited his arrival, displaying their excitement and heartfelt welcome as they gathered to greet the Indian leader. Members of the Indian community greeted the Prime Minister with chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Vande Mataram' as he arrived at the hotel in Cairo, waving the Indian tricolour.
Taking to Twitter, Modi wrote, “Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy was people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly, a celebration of our shared cultural linkages.”
"We are all very excited to meet PM Modi in Cairo," said Deepti Singh, President of the Indian Community Association in Egypt. "Today, 300-350 people have been invited to meet with the Prime Minister," she was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
It is to be noted that this is PM Modi’s first visit to the country as a prime minister and the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister after 26 years.
On Sunday, PM Modi will visit Al-Hakim mosque, a historic and prominent mosque in Cairo, and spend half-an-hour there. He will also visit Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who laid their lives during the First World War.
PM Modi's visit to Egypt comes on the heels of Egyptian President El-Sisi's visit to India as the chief guest on Republic Day, indicating the strengthening of bilateral ties and the mutual desire to expand cooperation between the two countries.