CAIRO — Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived July 19 on an official visit to Belgrade in the first visit by an Egyptian head of state to Serbia in more than three decades. According to observers, Sisi’s visit would revive the two countries’ historical relations amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.

Sisi received a warm welcome at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. He was decorated with the Order of the Republic of Serbia by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and presented with an honorary doctorate from the University of Belgrade.

Sisi and Vucic held bilateral talks on ways to strengthen their countries’ relations and discussed the latest developments on the regional and international scenes as well as issues of common interest, especially the Ukrainian crisis and the situations in Yemen, Syria and Libya.

A strategic partnership between the two countries was also launched during Sisi's visit, and 13 agreements and declarations in various fields were signed. The two countries also held their first economic forum in the presence of more than 130 companies from Egypt and Serbia.