KUALA LUMPUR — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was accorded a state welcoming ceremony at Istana Negara on Saturday on the occasion of his first state visit to Malaysia since assuming office in June 2014, at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.

Sultan Ibrahim graciously welcomed the arrival of El-Sisi at 10.08 am.

Also in attendance were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Following the welcoming ceremony, El-Sisi inspected a guard of honour comprising 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment.

The welcoming ceremony at the Istana Negara parade square began with a rendition of the national anthems of both countries by the Royal Ranger Regiment band led by Captain (DOM) Mohd Fahmy Harun, followed by a 21-gun salute by the 41st Battery of the Royal Artillery Regiment.

The Egyptian president then inspected a guard of honour comprising five officers and 89 personnel from the three branches of the Malaysian Armed Forces, namely the Malaysian Army, the Royal Malaysian Navy, and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, led by Major Muhammad Waqiyudin Abd Rahman.

His Majesty then grants an audience to El-Sisi and the Egyptian delegation and witnessed a presentation of royal tokens of appreciation ceremony at Dewan Seri Maharaja.

Sultan Ibrahim then hosted a state banquet at the Grand Banquet Hall in honour of El-Sisi and the Egyptian government delegation.