Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi was awarded an honorary doctorate from a university in Budapest on Friday, during his visit to the Hungarian capital as part of his current European tour. El-Sisi said the move by the National University of Public Service to grant him the degree reflects "mutual appreciation and understanding between the two countries at both the official and popular levels," according to a statement from his office. He called for boosting "education and cultural cooperation" between Cairo and Budapest, the statement added. El-Sisi flew to Hungary on Thursday, the second stop after Germany, where he had held talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck, and signed a major deal with German engineering titan Siemens. Earlier on Thursday, El-Sisi met with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban who said Cairo is the mainstay of stability for the Arab world and Europe. The leaders signed several cooperation protocols during their meeting. El-Sisi, along with investment ministers and corporate leaders of both countries, also inaugurated a joint Egyptian-Hungarian business forum. source: Ahram online
