Egyptian president starts India visit, also meets Kerry

NEW DELHI – Egypt’s president began an official visit to India on Thursday, where he also met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who extended his stay in the country.

A U.S. Embassy official said Kerry and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi met in New Delhi, but provided no details. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.

The Egyptian president is to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. He arrived in the Indian capital on Thursday for a three-day visit.

Kerry had been scheduled to return to Washington on Thursday after visiting India. The embassy official said he will now join President Barack Obama in China for the G-20 summit this weekend.

President el-Sissi is accompanied by Cabinet ministers and business leaders.

Egypt has traditionally been one of India’s most important trading partners in the African continent. The two countries are expected to sign agreements on Friday covering economic and cultural ties.

Trade between the two countries reached $4.76 billion in the past year, making India Egypt’s sixth-largest trading partner, according to India’s External Affairs Ministry.