Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has toured the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza during a significant visit aimed at enhancing the burgeoning relationship between China and Egypt.
This marks Xi’s first visit to Egypt in a decade and occurs as Beijing seeks to intensify its economic and diplomatic presence throughout the Middle East.
Upon his arrival, Xi was formally welcomed at Egypt’s Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo, where President Sisi greeted him with a 21-gun salute before they commenced their official discussions.
The discussions prominently featured regional security, with Xi urging Middle Eastern nations to take a more active role in shaping the region’s future, free from excessive external interference.
Xi expressed China’s support for regional countries’ efforts to resolve conflicts through dialogue and conveyed Beijing’s readiness to collaborate on safeguarding international shipping routes.
This issue holds particular significance as China has substantial commercial interests in the Middle East, being a major buyer of Iranian oil and resisting efforts to economically isolate Iran.
Another key aspect of the visit was the focus on economic cooperation between Egypt and China.
The presidency of Egypt announced that both nations have reached an agreement to initiate the third phase of development for an Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone.
This industrial zone has already attracted around 200 companies, with total investments estimated at approximately $4 billion, underscoring the increasing significance of Chinese investment in Egypt’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.
After their official discussions, Xi and Sisi, along with their spouses, visited the Grand Egyptian Museum, which stands as one of Egypt’s most vital cultural and tourism projects.
This visit illustrates the expanding relationship between Beijing and Cairo, which is evolving beyond traditional trade connections to encompass investment, industrial development, diplomacy, and regional security.
