KUALA LUMPUR: The Egyptian ambassador to Malaysia Ragai Tawfik Said Nasr on Monday hosted his Egypt national day celebration in Malaysia.
The early ceremony marked the country's upcoming 72nd Independence Day, which is celebrated on July 23.
Held at a renowned hotel here, the event was attended by some 300 guests, including foreign heads of missions, Malaysian government officials and business leaders.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir were among the attendees.
Ragai Tawfik said the national day celebration reflects the Egypt and Malaysia positive relations.
"It is a witness to our relations that are moving in a wonderful course, driven by the willingness of both the honourable Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to push forward the relations.
"I'm sure that it is a witness that we are going to enter in a new phase of much more relations in all aspects," he told Business Times after hosting the event.
Ragai Tawfik said the visit will open the door for Malaysia through Egypt.
"I would like to thank the Malaysian government and especially the Prime Minister for sending the invitation to the Sheikh Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Proffesor Dr Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad At-Tayyeb to come to visit Malaysia.
"It was a very successful visit and he was really touched by the well-prepared meeting," said Ragai.
Happy by the outcome of the event, Ragai Tawfik said the 72nd anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution was a very important historical event in the Middle East and Africa.
He said this is because the country was among the first African and Arab nations to have its own liberation.
"It was the strike of liberation in all African countries and a lot of Arab countries.
"We are always proud to have this important historic event as it really reshaped the history of the Middle East and Africa," he added.