Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt’s capital Cairo on Tuesday evening. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received Xi at Cairo International Airport.
The two leaders are expected to discuss strengthening relations between China and Egypt and implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. Regional and international developments will also be on the agenda.
Partnership and regional developments to take center stage
The Egyptian Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday that Xi’s visit would focus on implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed in 2014. The statement said the leaders would also discuss regional and international developments.
In an article published on Tuesday in Egypt’s Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar and Al Gomhuria newspapers, Xi said that China-Egypt relations were experiencing their best period in history after 70 years of friendship. The Chinese president called for deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership and expanding high-quality cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Xi also said cultural exchanges should be increased and cooperation among China, Arab countries and African countries strengthened.
In an article published in Al-Ahram, Sisi said Egypt and China had agreed that the expansion of armed conflicts would serve the interests of neither regional nor international parties.
History of China-Egypt relations
China’s Foreign Ministry had announced that Xi would undertake a foreign tour from August 30 to September 3. Xi last visited Egypt in January 2016. It was his first trip to Egypt after becoming president, and he met with Sisi.
During the same visit, Xi attended a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Sisi most recently visited China in May 2024; the Egyptian president has traveled to China many times.
Egypt and China established diplomatic relations in 1956. Egypt became the first Arab and African country to recognize the People’s Republic of China.
Beijing supported Cairo during the 1956 Suez Crisis. Egypt, in turn, supported China in regaining its seat at the United Nations in 1971.
The two countries established a strategic partnership in 1999. The partnership was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Sisi’s visit to Beijing in December 2014.
