Xi Jinping visits Cairo to deepen China-Egypt economic and strategic ties

State visit and diplomacy in Cairo

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday during a three-day state visit. The trip coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations and is Xi's first visit to Egypt in a decade, following his 2022 trip to Saudi Arabia. El-Sisi received Xi at the Cairo airport on Tuesday evening, where performers staged a traditional dance and children wore shirts featuring Xi's portrait. Official talks began on Wednesday at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace with a 21-gun salute. In joint newspaper editorials, Xi called for pragmatic collaboration, while el-Sisi reiterated Egypt's support for Beijing's position on Taiwan. Describing the diplomatic posture of both superpowers in the region, Amr Hamzawy, director of the Carnegie Middle East Program, evaluated superpower engagement earlier this year.

China continues to build up its soft power reserves while the United States self-sabotages its own stock.

Industrial expansion and trade agreements

During the bilateral talks, Egypt and China signed an agreement to launch the third expansion phase of the Suez Canal industrial zone. The joint economic zone currently accommodates roughly 200 companies representing approximately $4 billion in cumulative investments. The two governments also concluded cooperation agreements covering artificial intelligence, electric vehicle manufacturing, shipbuilding, semiconductor development, data centers, and supply chains for rare metals. To reduce reliance on third-party financial systems, the delegations agreed to settle more bilateral trade and investment transactions in their national currencies. According to Chinese customs figures, China registered a $12 billion trade surplus with Egypt during the first seven months of 2026.

Regional security and shipping corridors

Discussions between the two leaders addressed the six-month war between the United States and Iran, which has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Both heads of state called for diplomatic solutions to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that halts the hostilities. Xi affirmed that Beijing will cooperate with regional states to protect international maritime transit routes and remove the conditions that produce regional conflict. In statements published by Chinese state media, Xi addressed the role of external powers in Middle Eastern security.

We must uphold the principle that the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs, oppose external interference and support regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security.

Balancing alliances in the Middle East

Egypt continues to receive roughly $1.3 billion in annual United States military assistance while expanding ties with Beijing under what el-Sisi describes as an independent foreign policy. Egypt joined the BRICS bloc in 2023 and signed formal agreements on the Belt and Road Initiative in 2024. In August 2026, the two militaries held joint air combat exercises, marking the first time Chinese J-16 fighter jets operated alongside Egypt's French-built Rafale aircraft. Regional security partnerships have also developed, following the announcement of the Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye. Before concluding the visit, Xi is scheduled to tour the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids.