New Delhi: The Government of India has invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as the chief guest on the country's 74th Republic Day. Sisi reached New Delhi on Tuesday to attend the program. Several diplomats were present to receive Sisi at the airport. Al-Sisi is attending Republic Day as the chief guest in the year when India and Egypt celebrate 75 glorious years of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

On Tuesday, El-Sisi arrived in New Delhi for a four-day visit from January 24 to 27, accompanied by five ministers and top officials. This is the first time that the President of Egypt has been invited as the chief guest at India's Republic Day event. Egypt and India maintained strong ties, with Cairo being invited as a "guest country" in the wake of its G20 presidency. El-Sisi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday, where he will meet his Indian counterpart Her excellency Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

In a statement, the ministry said, "This is the first time that the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt has been invited as the chief guest on our Republic Day. A contingent of the Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade." They added, "The upcoming visit of President Sisi is expected to further strengthen and deepen the relations between India and Egypt." The ministry said that India and Egypt enjoy "warm and friendly relations marked by civilizational, cultural and economic ties and deep people-to-people ties". Thereafter, on Wednesday, the President of Egypt will pay floral tributes at Rajghat, the mausoleum of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. As part of his visit, El-Sisi will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Modi to discuss important bilateral matters and key issues around the world. 

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