Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, marking Xi's first visit to the country in a decade. During talks at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace, the two leaders discussed regional security and signed agreements to expand economic collaboration. The visit occurred during a six-month war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
The meeting follows several years of expanding ties between the two nations. In 2023, Egypt was invited to join the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, and in 2024, the country signed agreements to participate in China's Belt and Road Initiative. During the current visit, officials signed an agreement to launch the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal, a site that already hosts approximately $4 billion in investments from 200 companies.
According to the Xinhua news agency, Xi urged Middle East nations to oppose "external interference" and "acts of bullying." He called for a "more just and equitable global governance system" and stated that China is ready to work with regional states to safeguard international shipping lanes. President el-Sisi’s spokesperson stated that both leaders urged "diplomatic solutions" to reach a "comprehensive agreement to end the war."
Trade between China and Egypt reached an estimated $20 billion annually, compared to $15.7 billion in trade between Egypt and the U.S. in 2025. With the Strait of Hormuz heavily disrupted by the Iran war, the Egyptian-controlled Suez Canal has become an alternative for energy shipments.
This visit follows a 2023 Chinese-brokered deal to reestablish diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia and recent joint air exercises between Chinese J-16 and Egyptian Rafale fighter jets. These developments coincide with the formation of the Mecca Defence Alliance by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan last month. Xi is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump later this month.