Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Chinese President Xi Jinping has wrapped up a two-day visit to Egypt focused on expanding cooperation between Beijing and Cairo and strengthening coordination on regional and international issues.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Entissar El-Sisi were at Cairo International Airport to see Xi and his wife off on Wednesday, marking the end of the Chinese leader’s nearly 48-hour stay in Egypt.
The visit included formal discussions between Xi and El-Sisi on bilateral relations, economic development, and major international and regional challenges. The two presidents also discussed ways to build on their countries’ longstanding strategic partnership.
Xi arrived as Egypt and China marked the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, which began in 1956. El-Sisi described the occasion as an important milestone and welcomed the visit as an opportunity to give fresh momentum to ties between the two countries.
Economic cooperation featured prominently on the agenda. Egypt is seeking to attract more Chinese investment in sectors such as transportation, energy, industry, and infrastructure, while Chinese companies are already involved in several major development projects across the country.
The discussions also reflected the broader regional climate. With conflicts continuing across the Middle East, Egypt and China exchanged views on regional crises, including the war in Gaza. Both governments have backed calls for a ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and political solutions based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Beyond the official meetings, Xi’s programme included a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum. The stop underscored the historical connections between the two ancient civilizations and drew attention to Egypt’s efforts to expand its cultural and tourism infrastructure.
Over the past decade, economic ties have become an increasingly important part of the Egypt-China relationship. Cairo hopes to attract further Chinese capital while presenting Egypt as a strategic base for access to African and Middle Eastern markets.
Egypt’s location, control of the Suez Canal, and broad network of trade agreements are key elements of that strategy.
