China and Egypt are moving to strengthen their strategic relationship as Chinese President Xi Jinping makes his first visit to the country in a decade.
Xi was received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo, where the Chinese leader was given a ceremonial welcome that included a 21-gun salute.
The two presidents held talks covering regional security, international shipping and economic cooperation before later visiting the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.
Xi used the meeting to call for greater regional ownership of Middle Eastern affairs, arguing that countries in the region should have a stronger say in addressing their own security and political challenges.
The Chinese president also reaffirmed Beijing’s support for dialogue as a means of resolving regional disputes and said China was prepared to cooperate with countries in the Middle East to safeguard international shipping.
China’s interest in regional stability is closely connected to its economic links with the Middle East. The country relies heavily on the region for energy supplies and has maintained strong commercial ties with Iran despite international pressure on Tehran.
For Egypt, meanwhile, Chinese investment represents an important part of its efforts to expand industrial production and attract foreign capital.
During the visit, Egypt announced a new agreement covering the third stage of an Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone. The development already has roughly 200 companies operating within it and has attracted about $4 billion in investment.
The agreement is expected to further expand industrial cooperation between the two countries and reinforce China’s role as an important economic partner for Egypt.
The cultural side of the visit was highlighted when Xi and Sisi, accompanied by their wives, toured the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The museum, located near the Giza pyramids, has become one of Egypt’s most prominent cultural and tourism projects.
Xi’s return to Egypt after ten years signals the importance Beijing attaches to its relationship with Cairo. The partnership is increasingly extending across several areas, from manufacturing and investment to regional diplomacy and security.
For Egypt, closer relations with China offer access to investment and industrial opportunities, while Beijing gains a strategically located partner at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and global trade routes.
