Xi Jinping Arrives in Cairo for State Visit to Egypt, First in Decade
Bastillepost · 6 SOURCESabout 6 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a state visit to Egypt, his first to the country in a decade, as China strengthens its economic, military and diplomatic ties with the North African nation amid the fallout from the Iran war reshaping Middle East alliances. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi greeted Xi at Cairo International Airport with a ceremonial welcome featuring folk dancers and uniformed soldiers as the two nations marked 70 years of diplomatic relations.
Key Points
- Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were welcomed at Cairo International Airport by President and First Lady Sisi, where a red carpet ceremony featured traditional Egyptian folk dancers and honour guards
- The visit marks Xi's first trip to Egypt since January 2016, when he addressed the Arab League and witnessed agreements on infrastructure, energy, finance and industrial development
- In a signed article published in Egyptian media, Xi said he looks forward to working with Sisi to chart a new blueprint for deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership
- Chinese Foreign Ministry described bilateral relations as being "at their best in history" and said the visit would set the direction for future ties
- President Sisi has visited China eight times since taking office in 2014, most recently in May 2024, underscoring Cairo's pivot toward Beijing
- Both nations reaffirmed support for Palestinian people's legitimate national rights and called for political solutions to regional hotspot issues
- Xi emphasised that China and Egypt, as major developing nations and important members of the Global South, should practise true multilateralism and safeguard international fairness and justice
- Egypt, the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with China 70 years ago, has trumpeted its growing economic and military partnership with Beijing amid regional uncertainty
Why It Matters
The timing of Xi's visit is significant as Middle Eastern countries reassess their security and economic partnerships following the Iran war, which has disrupted global energy markets and raised questions about long-term American security commitments in the region. For Hong Kong, deepening China-Egypt ties signal Beijing's continued expansion of influence across the Belt and Road corridor, with potential implications for regional trade routes and investment flows that could affect Hong Kong's positioning as a financial gateway between China and global markets.
The timing of Xi's visit is significant as Middle Eastern countries reassess their security and economic partnerships following the Iran war, which has disrupted global energy markets and raised questions about long-term American security commitments in the region. For Hong Kong, deepening China-Egypt ties signal Beijing's continued expansion of influence across the Belt and Road corridor, with potential implications for regional trade routes and investment flows that could affect Hong Kong's positioning as a financial gateway between China and global markets.