Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, on Wednesday. The discussions will address multiple topics including investments, the repercussions of the ongoing Middle East conflict, and US sanctions.
Xi's three-day visit marks his first trip to Egypt in a decade and his inaugural visit to the region since his stop in Saudi Arabia back in 2022. In contrast, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has made several visits to China over the past few years.
Accompanied by his wife, Xi arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, where he was welcomed at the airport by President el-Sisi and his spouse. The presidents also attended a performance by an Egyptian folk troupe.
China is a primary exporter to Egypt, achieving a trade surplus of $12 billion in the first seven months of 2026, according to Chinese customs data.
Analysts suggest that Egypt aims to leverage this visit to demonstrate its strategic independence and show its ability to benefit from strong ties with both Washington and Beijing.
In an article published on Tuesday in Egyptian media, el-Sisi stated that Egypt "has maintained a policy of strategic balance as a direction for Egyptian foreign policy amid rising waves of polarization and competition." He emphasized that both countries "are partners contributing to enhancing the global south's role in the world system."
Xi is scheduled to visit Cairo on Wednesday, including a stop at the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids of Giza.
Major streets throughout Cairo have been adorned with Chinese and Egyptian flags, as well as banners depicting the two leaders and slogans such as "The Chinese-Egyptian friendship passes down from generation to generation like the flow of the Nile."
Egyptian media reported that the presidents are expected to sign agreements in artificial intelligence, transportation, energy, and investment in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Chinese investments play a pivotal role in Egypt's significant modern projects, having financed the central business district filled with skyscrapers in the new administrative capital located 50 kilometers east of Cairo.
Moreover, China has established a prominent presence in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, where discussions are anticipated regarding its expansion.
The countries also share military cooperation ties, having conducted joint air combat exercises in August with Egypt, one of the largest weapons importers globally, featuring China's formidable "J-16" fighter jets.