CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Cairo on an official trip to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. The Egyptian leader, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. The airport greeting was also attended by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s spouse, Peng Liyuan. This visit marks Xi’s first to Egypt in ten years and underscores the significance of bilateral political, economic, and developmental collaborations during high-level discussions in Cairo.
The Egyptian Presidency announced that El-Sisi and Xi would explore avenues to enhance their nations’ ties. Their discussion topics encompass economic collaboration, development initiatives, and political alignment. Additionally, they will evaluate the progress of the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, initiated in 2014. Addressing regional and international issues of mutual concern is also part of their agenda. Since elevating their partnership within the strategic framework, Egypt and China have maintained consistent presidential contact to strengthen their relationship.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, which were established in 1956, making Egypt the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China. Both nations highlighted this milestone during preparations for Xi’s trip. El-Sisi and Xi have emphasized the expansion of bilateral cooperation over the past decade, noting increases in trade, infrastructure development, and technological exchanges.
Celebrating Seven Decades of Growing Relations
Economic ties have become a cornerstone of the Egypt-China partnership. According to Egyptian government data, bilateral trade hit approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from about $17.37 billion in 2024. China continues to be Egypt’s leading trading partner for non-oil commodities, with Egyptian exports to China totaling around $840.8 million in the first half of 2026, while imports from China reached roughly $10.4 billion during the same period.
Trade between Egypt and China for the first half of 2026 amounted to about $11.3 billion, compared to roughly $9.3 billion during the same period last year. Egypt’s exports to China include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese companies are actively involved in numerous Egyptian development projects, including work in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transportation infrastructure east of Cairo.
Trade, Industrial Growth, and Technological Advancements in Focus
The scope of Chinese investment now extends across manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors. Chinese firms have participated in industrial development in the Suez Canal Economic Zone as well as other major projects in Egypt. Egypt and China have also identified sectors such as electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic devices for further industrial cooperation. Manufacturing agreements include desalination components, while technological collaboration spans artificial intelligence and space sciences, broadening their relationship beyond trade and construction.
During their Cairo meetings, El-Sisi and Xi are expected to review their ongoing cooperation within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership. The Egyptian Presidency highlighted political, economic, and developmental issues as key topics of discussion. Xi’s last visit to Egypt was in 2016, when cooperation across various sectors was expanding. His current visit emphasizes the significance of their 70-year diplomatic relationship, which now encompasses trade, large-scale infrastructure projects, manufacturing, technology, and ongoing presidential engagement.
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