Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Egypt for his first visit since 2016, as Cairo and Beijing mark 70 years of diplomatic relations. The talks are expected to focus on trade, investment, regional security and closer strategic cooperation between the two countries…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited Egypt for the first time since 2016, as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received Xi in Cairo on Tuesday, with the visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations and advancing cooperation between the two countries.
Egyptian presidential spokesman Ambassador Mohamed el-Shennawy said Xi’s visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and following up on the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed by Egypt and China in 2014.
“The visit will also include consultations on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest,” he said.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that relations with Egypt were at their best state in history and that Xi’s visit would help set the direction of future ties.
The visit comes as economic relations between Beijing and Cairo continue to expand.
China is Egypt’s largest trading partner in non-petroleum goods, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $20.7 billion by the end of 2025, according to Egypt’s State Information Service.
Egyptian exports to China also recorded a sharp increase during the first half of 2026. Data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics showed exports reached $840.8 million, an increase of nearly 200 per cent, while imports stood at $10.4 billion.
Chinese investment has focused heavily on the Suez Canal area, one of the world’s key trade routes connecting Asia and Europe.
The China-Egypt TEDA cooperation zone in Ain Sokhna, which forms part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, hosts about 200 companies and has attracted investments exceeding $3.8 billion, according to Chinese state media.
In an article published by Al-Ahram newspaper on Monday, el-Sisi said Egypt was taking steps to deepen its relationship with China.
“The comprehensive strategic partnership established by the two countries achieved a breakthrough in bilateral relations, as China became a major commercial and economic partner for Egypt, and direct Chinese investments increased, including in the Suez Canal Economic Zone,” he said.
Regional issues are also expected to feature prominently in discussions between the two leaders.
Egypt has sought Chinese support over its dispute with Ethiopia concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Cairo has long argued could affect its access to Nile waters.
El-Sisi thanked Beijing for its position on the issue, saying Egypt valued China’s recognition of the Nile’s importance to the country.
“In this regard, Egypt highly appreciates China’s position, which affirmed its recognition of the vital importance of the Nile River to Egypt as its main lifeline, and reiterates the importance of refraining from taking unilateral measures and enhancing cooperation in good faith to achieve mutual benefit and win-win cooperation for all,” he wrote.
Xi also highlighted the broader strategic relationship between the two countries in an article published ahead of his visit.
“For seven decades, the China-Egypt relationship has braved wind and rain, and withstood the test of the changing international landscape,” Xi wrote.
He said both countries supported Palestinian rights and called for political solutions to regional conflicts.
“Both sides firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, and both are committed to facilitating the political settlement of hotspot issues and realising peace and stability in the region.”
The Chinese president also referred to the joint Egypt-China Eagles of Civilisation air exercises, which began in Egypt on August 22.
The exercises underline the growing defence and strategic dimensions of relations between Beijing and Cairo, alongside their expanding economic partnership.
Xi’s visit therefore combines the anniversary of seven decades of diplomatic ties with efforts by both governments to broaden cooperation in trade, investment, regional affairs and security.
