Press Release No. 58
19 November 2008
On the Visit of H. E. Mr. Mohamed Hosny Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt
(16-19 NOVEMBER 2008)
19/11/2008
The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Hosny Mubarak, accompanied by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, paid a State visit to India from 16 to 19 November 2008 at the invitation of the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. President Mubarak was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Ministers of Trade & Industry, Communication & Information Technology, the Minister of Information, other senior officials as well as a large business delegation.
During his visit, President Mubarak called on the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The Vice-President of India, Shri Mohamed Hamid Ansari, the External Affairs Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Smt. Sonia Gandhi called on President Mubarak.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh held delegation-level discussions with H.E. President Hosny Mubarak on 18 November, 2008, during which a range of issues of bilateral and multilateral concern, including the Non-aligned Movement, of which Egypt will assume the Chair in 2009, and United Nations reform were discussed. Both leaders renewed their well-known support for the Middle East peace process. The two sides also agreed to strengthen their cooperation in combating terrorism.
During the visit, the President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for the year 1995 on His Excellency, President Hosni Mubarak at an impressive function attended by the Vice-President of India, Shri Mohammed Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries.
The following documents were signed at the conclusion of the talks between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Egypt:
(i) Extradition Treaty between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt
(ii) Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, special and official/service passports
(iii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Cooperation in the field of Health & Medicine
(iv) Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes
(v) Memorandum of Understanding between the
Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Arab Republic of
Egypt on Trade & Technical Cooperation.
Hon'ble External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of Egypt also signed a Joint Declaration on the State Visit of President Mubarak.
His Excellency President Hosny Mubarak invited the President and the Prime Minister of India to visit Egypt at a mutually convenient time. The invitations have been accepted.
His Excellency President Hosny Mubarak expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to the President and the Prime Minister of India for the warmth of the reception accorded to him and to his delegation during their stay.
New Delhi
November 19, 2008
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