CAIRO — Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt this week, marking a significant opportunity for both nations to strengthen their economic and diplomatic ties. This visit comes at a time when China is actively cultivating relationships with key allies in the Middle East, aiming to expand its influence in a region traditionally dominated by the United States.
Diplomatic Engagement
Xi arrived on Tuesday evening at Cairo airport, where he was greeted with a red-carpet ceremony by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and military guards. In their discussions on Wednesday, Xi emphasized the need for Cairo and Beijing to jointly oppose "unilateralism and acts of bullying," as reported by Xinhua, China's state-run news agency. He also called for collaboration towards a more equitable global governance system.
Xi's visit marks his first trip to Egypt in a decade and follows his previous visit to Saudi Arabia in 2022. The leaders celebrated 70 years of diplomatic ties by publishing friendly opinion pieces in Egypt's state-run newspapers, with Xi advocating for the expansion of pragmatic collaboration through development.
Economic Ties
Egypt views its growing relationship with China as a strategic move to diversify its partnerships. In 2023, Egypt joined the BRICS bloc, which includes major emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This grouping is seen as a counterbalance to Western-led institutions such as the G7.
