Manama, Aug 30 , 2018 - President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Thursday night started an official visit to Bahrain, the first leg of a multi-country tour that would take him to China and Uzbekistan. President Sisi, who is accompanied by a high-powered official and business delegation, was officially welcomed upon arrival at Manama International Airport by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and senior Bahraini government officials. The visit highlights President Sisi's keenness on reinforcing the fraternal relations between Egypt and Bahrain in every domain, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said earlier in the pre-departure statement. President Sisi's visit to Bahrain would give added impetus to the deeply-rooted fraternal relations and understanding between the two countries, Ambassador Radi added. It would also contribute to the promotion of joint Arab action. President Sisi and King Hamad were scheduled to hold their first round of official talks in Manama to discuss regional and international issues of bilateral concern as well as ways of cementing ties between the two countries, he said. Following his visit to Bahrain, President Sisi will leave for Beijing to attend the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC). While in China, President Sisi would hold a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on bolstering co-operation ties. At the end of the tour, President Sisi would visit Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, where he would hold talks with it President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Ambassador Radi said, noting that this is the first official visit by an Egyptian president to Uzbekistan.
