Xi Jinping visits Egypt amid Iran war

Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first visit to Egypt in a decade, arriving in Cairo on September 1, 2026, for a two-day state visit marking 70 years of diplomatic relations. During talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Xi called for deepening China-Egypt cooperation and proposed a new security architecture for the Middle East, urging regional countries to be 'masters of their own destiny' and to oppose external interference. The visit comes amid the ongoing US-Iran war, which has disrupted global energy markets and prompted US allies in the region to reassess their security relationships. China and Egypt signed over 20 cooperation documents covering areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, artificial intelligence, digital economy, and industrial supply chains. The two sides also agreed to deepen security cooperation, counterterrorism coordination, and expand cooperation in data centers, semiconductors, and critical metals supply chains, as well as strengthen the use of their currencies in trade. The visit highlighted China's growing economic and military ties with Egypt, including joint military exercises and billions in Chinese investment in sectors like container ports, green hydrogen, and infrastructure. Egypt, a major US defense partner receiving about $1.3 billion in annual military aid, has been diversifying its partnerships, and its strategic location controlling the Egypt — Suez Canal makes it a key partner for China's Belt and Road Initiative and its broader Middle East ambitions.