China’s Xi Jinping arrives in Egypt as ties deepen amid regional turmoil

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on September 1 for his first visit to the country in a decade, as Cairo and Beijing seek to strengthen their strategic and economic relationship amid continuing turmoil in the Middle East according to Reuters .

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi received Xi at Cairo International Airport at the start of his official visit. The trip comes as Egypt and China mark 70 years since establishing diplomatic relations in 1956.

Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. The relationship has since expanded into trade, infrastructure, technology and investment, with the two countries signing a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014.

Chinese companies have become increasingly involved in major Egyptian infrastructure projects, including the development of Egypt’s new administrative capital, renewable energy projects, ports and other infrastructure. Chinese investment has also expanded into manufacturing and technology.

Xi’s visit comes as Egypt seeks to maintain a strategic balance in its foreign relations while strengthening economic ties with Beijing. Cairo has traditionally maintained close security and economic relations with the United States, but has also expanded partnerships with China and other major powers.

The two countries are also seeking greater cooperation in areas including electric vehicles, energy-storage batteries, renewable energy, telecommunications, artificial intelligence and space technology.

The visit takes place against the backdrop of wider instability in the Middle East. China has presented itself as a supporter of greater cooperation among countries of the Global South, while Egypt has continued diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions and preventing conflicts from spreading.

Military cooperation has also grown. Egypt recently conducted its second joint military exercise with China, involving Chinese J-16 fighter jets and Egyptian and Western-made aircraft, reflecting Cairo’s efforts to diversify its military partnerships.

Xi’s trip follows his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan and comes before planned visits to India and the United States. The Egyptian visit is therefore part of a wider diplomatic push by Beijing as it seeks to strengthen relations with countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

For Egypt, the visit offers an opportunity to attract further Chinese investment and deepen cooperation with one of the world’s largest economies. For China, closer relations with Cairo provide a stronger economic and diplomatic presence in a strategically important country linking Africa, the Middle East and global trade routes.

Reuters, Al-Jazeera, SIS , Maghrebi.