New Delhi: India and Egypt will sign two bilateral agreements, including a treaty on criminal matters, during the ongoing visit of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to Cairo.

On the first day of his five-day official visit, Patil called on Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak today and reiterated the priority assigned by India to the traditional, deep-rooted relations with Egypt.

Noting that India and Egypt faced similar challenges, Patil emphasised that his visit would lead to strengthened cooperation between the two countries, the Indian Embassy said in a release.

President Mubarak noted with satisfaction the continuing high-level bilateral exchanges during the last one year and the further consolidation and deepening of the Indo-Egyptian relationship in diverse fields of cooperation.

Both leaders had a detailed exchange of views on the international situation, in particular, developments in the region, the release said. Patil reiterated the invitation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to President Mubarak to visit India at an early and convenient date.

Patil, who arrived in Cairo yesterday, would hold talks with Egyptian leaders, including his counterpart Gen Habib Ibrahim Habib El Adly, on issues of bilateral interest.

During the visit of Patil, the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Criminal Matters and the Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons will be signed in Cairo, an official release said earlier.

Source : PTI