Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a two-day state visit, his first trip to Egypt in a decade, as Beijing and Cairo seek closer economic and diplomatic cooperation amid growing instability across the Middle East. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomed Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, at Cairo airport. The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, with Egypt having been the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China in 1956. The leaders are expected to discuss the regional conflict involving Iran, the Gaza war, maritime security and disruptions to shipping routes. Xi has positioned China as a supporter of dialogue and a stronger role for regional countries in managing Middle East security, while Egypt remains an important diplomatic player in the region.
Economic cooperation is also at the center of the visit. China is Egypt’s largest trading partner in non-petroleum goods, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $20.7 billion in 2025. Chinese investment has expanded particularly around the Suez Canal Economic Zone, where the China-Egypt TEDA industrial zone hosts about 200 companies with investments exceeding $3.8 billion. The two countries have also agreed to deepen cooperation in areas including technology, industrial localisation, energy and investment. Egyptian officials say technology transfer and the development of domestic industries are key priorities, while Chinese companies are increasingly involved in infrastructure, manufacturing and technology projects in Egypt.
Xi’s visit comes as China seeks to protect its economic interests in a region increasingly affected by conflict and disruption to international trade. China is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy supplies and has sought stronger relationships with countries such as Egypt, which controls the strategically important Suez Canal. The visit also highlights Cairo’s effort to maintain relationships with multiple global powers. Egypt remains a major US partner while simultaneously expanding its economic and strategic cooperation with China, reflecting its broader policy of diversifying international partnerships. Xi and Sisi are expected to use the visit to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership while presenting closer China-Egypt cooperation as a source of stability and economic opportunity during a period of major geopolitical uncertainty.
