CAIRO, June 8 (Aswat Masriya) Egypt's new President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the word "Egypt" seventeen times in his first speech as president after his inauguration on Sunday. 

Sisi and Mansour signed the contract of handing over power earlier, after the former army chief took his oath into office.  

In his first speech as president, Sisi thanked Mansour on behalf of the Egyptian people, saying, "You were a great president; patient and wise."  

Sisi described his inauguration as a historic moment and his election as a democratic transition of power.  

"It is a big responsibility to be the president of this great country," Sisi said, expressing hopes for Egypt to enter a full renaissance on both the internal and external levels. 

The new Egyptian president thanked countries who have supported Egypt in the past few years, directing special words to Gulf countries and particularly to Saudi Arabia. 

"It is time for our great people to reap the fruit of their revolution," Sisi said.

Sisi stressed the importance of security and change and only mentioned terrorism once. 

He praised Egypt's history and described the Middle East's most populous country as the hub of arts and sciences. 

"We will establish a strong state, that is fair, safe, secure and prosperous. One that believes in education and work," he said. 

Sisi gained wide popularity last year after the army, which he headed then, ousted President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in response to mass demonstrations against his rule.