Egyptian President to visit Pakistan, India next week

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy is due to visit Pakistan early next week, the first visit to the country by an Egyptian Head of State in decades.

Mr. Morsy is scheduled to have a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said on Saturday.

“President Morsy’s visit is expected to impart dynamism to the bilateral ties and to expand, diversify and strengthen relations between the two countries in all spheres,” he added.

The two leaders are also expected to sign several agreements, the official said, without giving details.

Mr. Morsy, Egypt’s first democratically elected President, had earlier planned to travel to Pakistan in November for a summit of Islamic States. But the trip was called off because of his involvement in negotiations over a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza.

His visit to Pakistan will be followed by another to India, where he will hold talks on a possible increase in Indian investments and trade with Egypt, Egyptian media reported.

India is Egypt’s seventh biggest trading partner, a relationship Egypt is looking to grow as it struggles to revitalise its ailing economy.