Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Egypt for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between Beijing and Cairo, while also highlighting China's growing ambitions in the Middle East.
Xi was welcomed in Cairo by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi as the two countries marked 70 years of diplomatic relations. The visit is Xi's first trip to Egypt in a decade and his first visit to the Middle East since travelling to Saudi Arabia in 2022.
The Chinese and Egyptian leaders are expected to hold discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation, investment and regional diplomacy. Xi is also scheduled to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids during his stay.
China has increasingly focused on strengthening its relationship with Egypt, one of the most strategically important countries in the Arab world. Cairo views its growing partnership with Beijing as part of a broader effort to diversify its international alliances.
Egypt joined BRICS in 2023, bringing it closer to a grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The following year, Egypt signed further agreements connected to China's Belt and Road Initiative.
China has invested more than USD 10 billion in Egypt, supporting projects ranging from a business hub east of Cairo to an electric rail line serving industrial areas in the Nile Delta. Annual trade between China and Egypt is estimated at around USD 20 billion, underlining the growing economic relationship between the two countries.
The visit also comes at a time when China is seeking a larger diplomatic role across the Middle East. Beijing has attempted to present itself as a stabilising force and an alternative partner for countries traditionally aligned with the United States.
China's diplomatic influence in the region gained attention in 2023 when Beijing helped broker the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The agreement demonstrated China's ability to engage with rival powers in a region where Washington has historically played a dominant political and military role.
Beijing has also consistently supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has sought closer ties with Arab nations while maintaining strong economic and strategic relations with Iran.
Egypt's geographical importance has added another dimension to Xi's visit. With energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz facing disruption amid regional tensions, the Suez Canal has become an increasingly significant route for global trade and energy supplies.
China sees Egypt as an important gateway to both the Arab world and Africa. Strengthening ties with Cairo could give Beijing greater economic access and diplomatic influence across two strategically important regions.
Military cooperation between China and Egypt has also expanded. In August, the two countries held a multi-day air exercise involving China's J-16 fighter jets and Egypt's French-made Rafale aircraft, marking a significant development in defence cooperation.
Xi's arrival in Cairo followed his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit attended by leaders from several major Asian and Eurasian countries, including India, Russia, Pakistan and Iran.
The Egypt visit brings together China's expanding economic investments, diplomatic outreach and strategic ambitions. As regional alliances continue to evolve, Beijing is seeking to strengthen its position in the Middle East through partnerships with influential countries such as Egypt.
Xi Jinping's meetings with President el-Sissi are therefore expected to carry significance beyond China-Egypt relations, reflecting Beijing's broader push to expand its role across the Middle East, Africa and the wider global political landscape.
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