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Xi's Egypt visit underscores regional ties amid US sanctions threat over Iran
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for his first visit in a decade, as both countries face US sanctions threats linked to Iran. The trip highlights Egypt's balancing act between Washington and Beijing amid the Iran war's fallout.
By Tertius News AI Desk2 distinct · 8 mastheads · 10 articlesVersion 3Coverage Published
Xi arrives in Cairo for landmark visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday evening for a three-day visit, his first to the Arab world's most populous nation in a decade. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport, where a red-carpet ceremony was held, with Egyptian and Chinese flags adorning the venue.
The visit comes as both countries face the threat of US sanctions over financial links to Iran. The months-long Middle East war, which began when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, has disrupted the region's trade and energy flows. Washington has vowed to destabilise Iran economically, warning of expanded sanctions against Tehran's backers and partners that could hit Egyptian and Chinese banks.
Strategic partnership on display
The leaders marked 70 years of diplomatic ties by publishing opinion pieces in Egypt's state-run newspapers. Xi wrote that Beijing and Cairo should "expand the scope of pragmatic collaboration" through development. In an op-ed in the state newspaper Al-Ahram, Sisi said that "Egypt and China have become partners contributing together to strengthening the role of the Global South in the international system."
In commentary published by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi described the two countries as "close brothers standing by each other" in the face of imperialism and colonialism.
Egypt has been seeking deeper ties with Beijing since at least 2014, when recently elected Sisi travelled to China to sign a strategic partnership deal, according to A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute think tank. Hellyer said Cairo's messaging toward Washington has softened since then, but "questions of American reliability and volatility" raised by the wars in Gaza and Iran have reinforced Egypt's desire to diversify partnerships. "Egypt sees itself as moving toward greater strategic autonomy," he said, adding that "it wants strong relations with Washington, but also Beijing, Moscow, and Europe."
Chinese investment in Egypt has surged in recent years, with billions flowing into sectors such as manufacturing, ports, solar energy, green hydrogen, and satellite technology. China has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, building a business hub and an electric rail line, according to government figures. Annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $20 billion.
Regional context and military ties
The visit follows Xi's participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, where he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders. It also comes after Beijing hosted Jordan's King Abdullah II last week, a visit in which the issue of Palestinian rights featured prominently. Xi told Abdullah in August that China "believes the sovereignty and security of regional countries" should be respected.
Both China and Egypt support an independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution. Egypt, a long-time recipient of US military aid, has warned against regional escalation after a drone strike hit one of its ports in July.
Last month, Egypt hosted its second annual military exercises with China, which included the first deployment of China's J-16 jets to Africa and a rare air combat drill involving the Chinese-made fighters and French-made Rafales, according to Chinese state media. A Chinese air force tanker was also pictured refuelling a Rafale.
Experts see strategic calculus
Analysts say the visit reflects China's broader ambitions in the region. Gamal Salama, political science professor at Egypt's Suez University, said Xi's visit "comes at a time when China's economic interests are directly exposed to the US-Iran war." He added that "China sees Cairo as a strategic power broker," with Egypt's relations with Washington and regional actors giving Beijing "political access and diplomatic leverage across a region where China wants a much greater say."
Liu Jia, a research fellow at the Singapore-based Middle East Institute, said China is "clearly seeking Egypt's cooperation in managing and shaping regional affairs."
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a Middle East expert, said China has good reason to strengthen ties with Egypt because it controls the Suez Canal, which has become an important alternative path for energy supplies due to disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Xi views Egypt as a base to reach the wider Arab and African world, Rakhmat said.
Eric Olander, co-founder of the China Global South Project, said Egypt was an "obvious choice" for Xi to visit because it is at the heart of a variety of regional issues. "It touches on Israel, and the Palestinian issue. It touches on Africa. It touches on the Persian Gulf issue," he said.
Sanctions pressure and Egypt's balancing act
As part of its economic pressure campaign targeting Iran, Washington last week said it would cut off the operations of Egypt's Banque Misr in the UAE from the US financial system. China, in response to US measures and threats, has vowed to safeguard its interests.
China is a major buyer of Iranian oil, purchasing more than 80% of Iran's shipments, and has presented itself as a neutral party in the Middle East conflict, repeatedly calling for a lasting ceasefire. Beijing says its trade with Iran has always abided by international law.
The visit comes amid expectations of a meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump later this month, as reported by some sources. The leaders are also expected to sign agreements on artificial intelligence, transport, energy, and investment in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, according to Egyptian media reports.
Salama said Egypt is seeking strategic autonomy, "not breaking with Washington nor aligning completely with Beijing."
How each outlet told it
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Framing: The headline emphasizes Xi's visit to Egypt as part of China deepening ties across the Middle East, framing it as a regional strategic move
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt this week
Xi met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi
Xi arrived Tuesday evening at Cairo airport, which was adorned with Chinese and Egyptian flags
El-Sissi and military guards greeted Xi with a red-carpet ceremony
Leaders scheduled talks for Wednesday
Xi planned to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids of Giza
Xi's visit was his first to Egypt in a decade and his first trip to the region since visiting Saudi Arabia in 2022
El-Sissi has visited China multiple times in recent years
Leaders marked 70 years of diplomatic ties by publishing opinion pieces in Egypt's state-run newspapers
Xi wrote that Beijing and Cairo should 'expand the scope of pragmatic collaboration' through development
El-Sissi lauded China's investments in Egypt and reiterated Cairo's support of China's claim that Taiwan is part of its territory
Egypt views its growing relationship with China as a way to diversify its strategic partnerships
In 2023, Egypt was invited to join the BRICS bloc of nations
A year later, Egypt signed agreements with China to collaborate on its Belt and Road Initiative
China has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, building a business hub and an electric rail line
Annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $20 billion, according to government figures
Egypt is a crucial partner in U.S. national security priorities in the region
In 2023, Beijing brokered a deal to reestablish diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia
The agreement showcased China's aspirations to compete with the United States for influence in the Mideast
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as part of its retaliation against the U.S. and Israel, which launched the war on Feb. 28
China has long advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Shortly before Hamas militants attacked Israel in 2023, Xi hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and announced a 'strategic partnership' with the Palestinian Authority
The Suez Canal has become an important alternative path for getting energy supplies out of the region due to disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a Middle East expert, said China has good reason to strengthen ties with Egypt because it controls the route still open
Rakhmat said Xi views Egypt as a base to reach the wider Arab and African world
In August, China and Egypt held a multiday air exercise at several bases across Egypt
Xi visited Cairo after attending a two-day conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The leaders of Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran attended the conference in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek
The trip comes on the heels of the Trump administration's 'economic onslaught' on Iran's financial connections
The sanctions aim to isolate Iran from its remaining economic partners, including China, which buys more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments
Beijing says its trade with Iran has always abided by international law
Framing: The headline emphasizes Xi's visit to Egypt and the looming US sanctions threat over Iran links.
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday evening.
Both countries face the threat of US sanctions over financial links to Iran.
The months-long Middle East war began when the United States and Israel jointly launched strikes against Iran on February 28.
Washington vowed last month to destabilise Tehran economically, warning of sanctions against Tehran's backers and partners that could hit Egyptian and Chinese banks.
Gamal Salama, political science professor at Egypt's Suez University, said Xi's visit 'comes at a time when China's economic interests are directly exposed to the US-Iran war'.
Liu Jia, a research fellow at the Singapore-based Middle East Institute, said China is 'clearly seeking Egypt's cooperation in managing and shaping regional affairs'.
Beijing works closely with regional actors such as Egypt, which mediates between Israel and Palestinian groups, according to Liu Jia.
Both China and Egypt support an independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.
Washington last week said it would cut off the operations of Egypt's Banque Misr in the UAE from the US financial system as part of its economic pressure campaign against Iran.
China has vowed to safeguard its interests in response to US threats.
The Chinese and Egyptian militaries carried out joint air combat exercises in August that featured J-16 fighter jets.
Xi's meeting with Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is scheduled for Wednesday.
Xi's meeting follows a visit to Beijing by Jordan's King Abdullah II, whose country has also been caught up in the US war with Iran.
Xi told Abdullah in August that China 'believes the sovereignty and security of regional countries'.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Xi's visit to Egypt as taking place in the context of the Iran war reshaping Middle East alliances. — Measured, presenting the visit and regional shifts as strategic developments without overt alarm or advocacy.
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, his first visit to the Arab world's most populous nation in a decade.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport.
Sisi wrote in an op-ed in state newspaper Al-Ahram: 'Egypt and China have become partners contributing together to strengthening the role of the Global South in the international system.'
Xi's visit is the second leg of his second overseas trip this year, following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan where he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In commentary published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi said the two countries were 'close brothers standing by each other' in the face of imperialism and colonialism.
Egypt hosted its second annual military exercises with China, launched last year as Beijing sought to chip away at U.S. influence in the region.
The drills marked the first deployment of China's J-16 jets to Africa and a rare air combat drill involving the Chinese-made fighters and French-made Rafales, according to Chinese state media.
Egypt has been seeking deeper ties with Beijing since at least 2014, when recently elected Sisi travelled to China to sign a strategic partnership deal, said H.A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute think tank.
Hellyer said Cairo's messaging toward Washington has softened since then, but 'questions of American reliability and volatility' raised by the wars in Gaza and Iran have reinforced its desire to diversify partnerships.
Hellyer said: 'Egypt sees itself as moving toward greater strategic autonomy.'
Hellyer said: 'It wants strong relations with Washington, but also Beijing, Moscow, and Europe.'
Bordering Israel, Sudan and Libya, and home to the vital trade artery of the Suez Canal, Egypt is often seen by foreign powers as a strategic linchpin in a volatile region riven by multiple conflicts.
Chinese investment in Egypt has surged in recent years, with billions flowing into sectors such as manufacturing, ports, solar energy, green hydrogen and satellite technology.
Eric Olander, co-founder of the China Global South Project, said Egypt was an 'obvious choice' for Xi to visit because it is at the heart of a variety of regional issues.
Olander said: 'It touches on Israel, and the Palestinian issue. It touches on Africa. It touches on the Persian Gulf issue.'
Last week, Xi hosted Jordan's King Abdullah in Beijing, where the issue of Palestinian rights featured prominently.
Xi is expected to visit India and the U.S. later this month.
Framing: Highlights Xi's visit to Egypt set against a looming US sanctions threat, framing the trip as a geopolitical maneuver. — Analytical and neutral, with a focus on strategic calculations and regional dynamics.
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Egypt on Tuesday.
The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28.
Washington warned of expanded sanctions against Tehran’s backers and partners, including Egyptian and Chinese banks.
Gamal Salama, political science professor at Egypt’s Suez University, said Xi’s visit comes at a time when China’s economic interests are directly exposed to the US-Iran war.
China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and has called for a lasting ceasefire.
Egypt warned against regional escalation after a drone strike hit one of its ports in July.
Liu Jia, a research fellow at the Singapore-based Middle East Institute, said China is seeking Egypt’s cooperation in managing regional affairs.
Both China and Egypt support a two-state solution for Palestine.
Washington said it would cut off the operations of Egypt’s Banque Misr in the UAE from the US financial system.
A meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump is expected this month.
The Chinese and Egyptian militaries carried out joint air combat exercises in August featuring the J-16 fighter jet.
Xi’s meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is scheduled for Wednesday.
Xi’s visit follows a visit to Beijing by Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
Xi told Abdullah that China believes the sovereignty and security of regional countries should be respected.
Expected discussion topics include the Gaza war, Iran, and shipping in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Xi wrote an editorial in Egyptian media about renewing friendship and deepening the China-Egypt strategic partnership.
China’s trade surplus with Egypt reached $12 billion in the first seven months of 2026.
Agreements are expected on AI, transport, energy, and investment in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Salama said Egypt seeks strategic autonomy, not breaking with Washington nor aligning completely with Beijing.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Xi's visit to Egypt as part of China's broader quest for deeper influence in the Middle East. — Analytical and neutral, with a focus on strategic implications.
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Egypt this week to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.
Xi arrived Tuesday evening at Cairo airport, which was adorned with Chinese and Egyptian flags.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi greeted Xi on the tarmac with a red-carpet ceremony.
The leaders are scheduled to hold talks on Wednesday, and Xi plans to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.
This is Xi's first visit to Egypt in a decade and his first trip to the region since visiting Saudi Arabia in 2022.
El-Sissi has visited China multiple times in recent years.
The leaders marked 70 years of diplomatic ties by publishing opinion pieces in Egypt's state-run newspapers.
Xi wrote that Beijing and Cairo should expand the scope of pragmatic collaboration through development.
El-Sissi lauded China's investments in Egypt and reiterated Cairo's support for China's claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.
In 2023, Egypt was invited to join the BRICS bloc of nations.
A year later, Egypt signed agreements with China to collaborate on its Belt and Road Initiative.
China has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, building a business hub and an electric rail line.
Annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $20 billion, according to government figures.
In 2023, Beijing brokered a deal to reestablish diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as part of its retaliation against the U.S. and Israel, which launched the war on Feb. 28.
China has long advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Shortly before Hamas militants attacked Israel in 2023, Xi hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and announced a 'strategic partnership' with the Palestinian Authority.
The Suez Canal, controlled by Egypt, has become an important alternative path for energy supplies due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
In August, China and Egypt held a multiday air exercise, the first-ever combat exercise for China's J-16 fighter jets and Egypt's Rafale fighters.
Xi is visiting Cairo after attending a two-day conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Kyrgyzstan.
The trip comes on the heels of the Trump administration's 'economic onslaught' on Iran's financial connections.
The sanctions aim to isolate Iran from its remaining economic partners, including China, which buys more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments.
Beijing says its trade with Iran has always abided by international law.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Xi's visit to Egypt as part of China's deepening influence in the Middle East.
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt this week for a run-of-the-mill opportunity to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.
Xi arrived Tuesday evening at the Cairo airport, adorned with Chinese and Egyptian flags, and was greeted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and military guards with a red-carpet ceremony.
The leaders are scheduled to hold talks on Wednesday, and Xi plans to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Xi's visit to Egypt is his first in a decade and his first trip to the region since visiting Saudi Arabia in 2022.
The leaders marked 70 years of diplomatic ties by publishing friendly opinion pieces Tuesday in Egypt's state-run newspapers.
In his opinion piece, Xi wrote that Beijing and Cairo should 'expand the scope of pragmatic collaboration' through development.
El-Sissi lauded China's investments in Egypt and reiterated Cairo's support of China's claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.
In 2023, Egypt was invited to join the BRICS bloc, a grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, seen as a counterbalance to Western-led institutions such as the G7.
A year later, Egypt signed agreements with China to collaborate on its Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to build power and transportation infrastructure worldwide.
China has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, building a business hub and an electric rail line.
Annual trade between China and Egypt is estimated at $20 billion, according to government figures.
China brokered a deal in 2023 to reestablish diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but ties between Riyadh and Tehran have since frayed.
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as part of its retaliation against the U.S. and Israel, which launched the war on Feb. 28.
China has advocated a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, seen by the Arab world as a linchpin to regional stability.
Shortly before Hamas militants attacked Israel in 2023, Xi hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and announced a 'strategic partnership' with the Palestinian Authority.
The Suez Canal, controlled by Egypt, has become an important alternative for energy supplies due to heavy disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz by the Iran war.
Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a Middle East expert, said China has good reason to strengthen ties with Egypt because it controls the route still open, and Xi views Egypt as a base to reach the wider Arab and African world.
In August, China and Egypt held a multiday air exercise, the first-ever combat exercise for China's J-16 fighter jets and Egypt's French-made Rafale fighters.
Xi visited Cairo after attending a two-day conference of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, where leaders of Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran attended.
The trip comes on the heels of the Trump administration's 'economic onslaught' on Iran's financial connections, with sanctions aiming to isolate Iran from economic partners, including China, which buys more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments.
Beijing says its trade with Iran has always abided by international law.
Framing: Emphasizes Xi's arrival in Egypt while highlighting the looming US sanctions threat over Iran links. — Neutral reporting with a focus on geopolitical balancing and strategic interests.
Framing: Emphasizes Xi's arrival in Egypt against the backdrop of regional realignment due to the Iran war.
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, his first visit to the Arab world's most populous nation in a decade.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport.
Xi's visit is the second leg of his second overseas trip this year, following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan.
Egypt hosted its second annual military exercises with China last month.
The drills marked the first deployment of China's J-16 jets to Africa.
Egypt has been seeking deeper ties with Beijing since at least 2014, when recently elected Sisi travelled to China to sign a strategic partnership deal.
Chinese investment in Egypt has surged in recent years, with billions flowing into sectors such as manufacturing, ports, solar energy, green hydrogen and satellite technology.
Xi is expected to visit India and the U.S. later this month.
In commentary published by Chinese state news Xinhua, Xi said the two countries were 'close brothers standing by each other' in the face of imperialism and colonialism.
Sisi wrote in state newspaper Al-Ahram that 'Egypt and China have become partners contributing together to strengthening the role of the Global South in the international system.'
Framing: The headline emphasizes Xi's visit to Egypt and frames it within the context of the Iran war reshaping Middle East alliances, suggesting a shift in regional dynamics. — The tone is neutral and informative, with a focus on diplomatic and strategic developments.
Facts Included:
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, his first visit to the Arab world’s most populous nation in a decade.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport, where they walked a red carpet flanked by soldiers, dancers, and Egyptians waving Chinese flags.
Egyptian state media has trumpeted Cairo’s growing economic and military ties with Beijing and Egypt’s role as the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with China 70 years ago.
Sisi wrote in an op-ed in state newspaper Al-Ahram that Egypt and China have become partners contributing to strengthening the role of the Global South.
Xi’s visit is the second leg of his second overseas trip this year, following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan where he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In commentary published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi said the two countries were 'close brothers standing by each other' in the face of imperialism and colonialism.
Egypt hosted its second annual military exercises with China, which included the first deployment of China’s J-16 jets to Africa and a rare air combat drill involving Chinese-made fighters and French-made Rafales.
A Chinese air force tanker was also pictured refuelling a Rafale, offering Beijing a closer look at Western-made equipment.
Egypt has been seeking deeper ties with Beijing since at least 2014, when recently elected Sisi travelled to China to sign a strategic partnership deal, said H.A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute think tank.
Hellyer said Cairo’s messaging toward Washington has softened, but questions of American reliability and volatility raised by the wars in Gaza and Iran have reinforced Egypt’s desire to diversify partnerships.
Hellyer said Egypt sees itself as moving toward greater strategic autonomy and wants strong relations with Washington, but also Beijing, Moscow, and Europe.
Egypt is often seen as a strategic linchpin in a volatile region, bordering Israel, Sudan, and Libya, and home to the Suez Canal.
Chinese investment in Egypt has surged in recent years, with billions flowing into sectors such as manufacturing, ports, solar energy, green hydrogen, and satellite technology.
Eric Olander, co-founder of the China Global South Project, said Egypt was an 'obvious choice' for Xi to visit because it is at the heart of regional issues touching on Israel, Palestine, Africa, and the Persian Gulf.
Last week, Xi hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah in Beijing, where the issue of Palestinian rights featured prominently.
Xi is expected to visit India and the S. later this month.
AI-extracted; can misattribute a claim — see Methodology.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status is Contested when two claims on this page negate each other; otherwise it counts the distinct outlets we found asserting that specific claim — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimChinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, his first visit to the Arab world's most populous nation in a decade.
ClaimWashington vowed last month to destabilise Iran economically, warning of expanded sanctions against Tehran's backers and partners that could hit Egyptian and Chinese banks, among others.
ClaimGamal Salama, political science professor at Egypt's Suez University, said Xi's visit comes at a time when China's economic interests are directly exposed to the US-Iran war.
ClaimChina is a major buyer of Iranian oil and has presented itself as a neutral party in the Middle East conflict, repeatedly calling for a lasting ceasefire.
ClaimLiu Jia, a research fellow at the Singapore-based Middle East Institute, said China is clearly seeking Egypt's cooperation in managing and shaping regional affairs.
ClaimAs part of its economic pressure campaign targeting Iran, Washington last week said it would cut off the operations of Egypt's Banque Misr in the UAE from the US financial system.
ClaimBeijing has sought to shore up ties with US-friendly regional nations ahead of a meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump expected this month.
ClaimXi and Sisi are expected to discuss issues includingthe Gaza war, Iran,and shipping in the Red Sea andthe Strait of Hormuz, according to Egyptian media.
ClaimXi wrote an editorial in Egyptian media on Tuesday looking forward to renewing the friendship and working together with President Sisi to map out a new blueprint for deepening the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership.
ClaimEgypt is seeking strategic autonomy, not breaking with Washington or aligning completely with Beijing, according to political scientist Gamal Salama.
ClaimEgypt and China have become partners contributing together to strengthening the role of the Global South in the international system, Sisi wrote in an op-ed in state newspaper Al-Ahram.
ClaimXi's visit is the second leg of his second overseas trip this year, following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summitin Kyrgyzstanwhere he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putinand others.
ClaimIn commentary published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi said the two countries were 'close brothers standing by each other' in the face of imperialism and colonialism.
ClaimThe drills marked the first deployment of China's J-16 jets to Africa anda rare air combat drill involving the Chinese-made fightersand French-made Rafales, according to Chinese state media.
ClaimEgypt has been seeking deeper tieswith Beijing since at least2014,when recently elected Sisi travelled to China to signa strategic partnership deal, said H.A. Hellyer,a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute think tank.
ClaimCairo's messaging toward Washington has softened since then, but 'questions of American reliability and volatility' raised by the warsin Gaza and Iran have reinforced its desire to diversify partnerships, said H.A. Hellyer.
ClaimBordering Israel, Sudan and Libya, and home to the vital trade artery of the Suez Canal, Egypt is often seen by foreign powersas a strategic linchpin in a volatile region riven by multiple conflicts.
ClaimChinese investment in Egypt has surged in recent years, with billions flowing into sectors such as manufacturing, ports, solar energy, green hydrogenand satellite technology.
ClaimEric Olander, co-founder of the China Global South Project, said Egypt was an 'obvious choice' for Xi to visitbecause it is atthe heart ofa variety of regional issues.
ClaimIn 2023, Egypt was invited to join the BRICS bloc of nations, a grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, seen as acounterbalance to Western-led institutions such as the G7.
ClaimA year later, Egypt signed agreementswith China to collaborate on its Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policyof Xi's that seeks to build powerand transportation infrastructure around the world.
ClaimChina has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, buildinga business hub east of the capital, Cairo, and an electric rail line for industry inthe Nile Delta.
ClaimShortly before Hamas militants attacked Israel in 2023, Xi hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbasand announced a 'strategic partnership' with the Palestinian Authority.
ClaimThe Suez Canal has become an important alternative path for getting energy supplies out of the region due to heavy disruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz bythe Iran war.
ClaimMuhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a Middle East expert, said China has good reason to strengthen ties with Egypt because it controlsthe route still open.
ClaimXi visited Cairo after attending a two-day conference of the 10-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, where leaders of Russia, India, Pakistan and Iran attended.
ClaimThe trip comes on the heels of the Trump administration's 'economic onslaught' on Iran's financial connections, with sanctions aiming to isolate Iranfrom its remaining economic partners, including China, which buys more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments, usually through indirect channels.
ClaimXi aims to present China as a stabilizer in the region and contrast it with the United States, which for decades has been militarily entangled there – its six-month warwith Iran being just the latest example.
ClaimChina continues to build up its soft power reserves while the United States self-sabotages its own stock, Amr Hamzawy, director of the Washington-based Carnegie Middle East Program, wrote ina paper earlier this year along with Kathryn Selfe, a former fellow at the program.