Public Address by His Excellency H.E. Mr Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Foreign Minister, Arab Republic of Egypt, at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), New Delhi, Thursday, 22 March 2018

Welcome Address by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF

H.E. Mr. Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Foreign Minister of Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Ambassador Hatem Tageldin, Members of Egyptian delegation, Senior Officials of the Government of India, Excellencies and members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the Media, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome H.E. the Foreign Minister of Arab Republic of Egypt to the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) for a talk on ‘Regional Developments and Prospects of India-Egypt Relations.’

The Foreign Minister is leading a high-level delegation to India for Indo-Egyptian Joint Commission meeting with his counterpart, the External Affairs Minister of India, Smt Sushma Swaraj. We are grateful that he has found time from his busy schedule to visit the Vivekananda International Foundation.

His Excellency Mr Shoukrey has been the Foreign Minister of Egypt since 2014. In a diplomatic career spanning over four decades, H.E. Shoukrey has served in several assignments. During 2008-12, he was Egypt’s ambassador to the United States.

Excellency, The foundation is named after Swami Vivekananda, a 19th Century monk, who introduced the West to the fundamentals of Indian civilisation and spiritualism of Hindu religion. He formally believed in the renaissance of India, rooted in the values of Indian civilisation while encompassing modernity. He also saw a common thread running through the world’s religions. He has inspired countless number of generations in India. His thoughts and advice are still relevant not only for India but for the conflict ridden world.

The VIF in the past has provided a platform to senior foreign dignitaries for interaction with the informed public. We are delighted that you are addressing us today on the important subject of India-Egypt relations.

Since the state visit of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to India in September 2016, bilateral engagements between the two countries has been intensified. PM Modi and President Sisi have met a number of times. Today, India-Egypt relations are developing on political, economic, defence, security, science and technology, and cultural fields.

India and Egypt are two ancient civilisations. In the edicts of Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century BCE, there is a mention of relations with Ptolemy-II. Traditional and historical ties between India and Egypt have developed strongly in the recent years. Radical changes in the geo-political environment, particularly in the West Asia since the end of the Cold War, have provided a fresh logic to the further development of our bilateral relations. In the last few years India’s engagement with the countries in West Asia and North Africa have transcended the transactional stage and are increasingly acquiring strategic dimensions. Egypt is an important partner of India in the Arab world covering West Asia and North Africa. India and Egypt have cooperated with each other in the evacuation of their nationals from conflict areas. India evacuated Egyptian citizens from Yemen in April 2016. Egypt helped India in evacuating its citizens from Libya in 2011. Such humanitarian and practical cooperation has strengthened bilateral ties and enhanced mutual interest.

Terrorism poses a big threat to regional and global security. India has for long been a victim of cross border terrorism. The two countries have similar views on the issue of countering terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They have agreed to cooperate and work together in United National on concluding the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

The field of cooperation in expanding to newer areas. In recent years, important agreements on cyber security and counter-terrorism cooperation have been signed. The Joint Defence Committee mechanism has been activated. This will help strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries. The scope of bilateral cooperation has been extended to information and communication technology, agriculture, biotechnology, renewable and non-conventional energy, skills development, etc. With the inauguration of new Suez Canal which was constructed in record time, prospects for Indian investments in Egypt have also increased. As we speak, India and Egypt have over 30 memorandums of understanding and agreements of cooperation in wide-range of fields. Following the Joint Commission Meeting between the two countries, the range of cooperation will increase further.

Indeed, closer cooperation between India and Egypt is not only in mutual interest, it also serves the objective of peace and stability in the otherwise turbulent region of West Asia and North Africa.

I now invite H.E. Sameh Shoukry to address us.