Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received here on Saturday Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Indian premier hailed relations between both countries. He also congratulated president Sisi on the inauguration of the New Suez Canal that took place last month; noting that it will help promote international trade movement, according to Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Alaa Youssef.

He also expressed keenness on establishing strategic relations between the two countries in various domains including trade and investment and fighting terrorism and extremism, added the spokesman.

For his part, president Sisi asserted Egypt's keenness on enhancing joint relations with India in all domains, said the spokesman, adding that the president thanked the Indian premier for his country's support to Egypt in its bid to win membership of the UNSC for 2016/2017.

The president also underlined the massive investment opportunities in Egypt, explaining that the New Suez Canal will not only be a passage for international trade, but it is also part of an integrated project for the development of the Suez Canal region, according to the spokesman.

Later, the president also met with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, who invited the president into a conference that will be held by his country on the occasion marking the 20th anniversary since his country has adopted the non-aligned policy. The conference will be held under the UN auspices.

The two presidents underlined the importance of holding the joint committee meetings for following up all cooperation files especially in the domains of gas, energy and tourism.

Meanwhile, the president underlined the importance of consolidating all international efforts for fighting terrorism, added the spokesman.

The president also received President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta who congratulated president Sisi over the inauguration of the New Suez Canal describing it as contributing to restoring the Egyptian status in the international arena.

The Malian president thanked Sisi for the technical support his country is receiving from Cairo, added the spokesman.

President Sisi congratulated his Malian counterpart on signing a peace and reconciliation agreement in his country stressing that Egypt will remain extending all support to Mali.

Source: MENA