Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged Middle Eastern nations to resist outside interference and consider reshaping the region’s security framework.
On his first visit to Cairo in a decade, Xi on Wednesday told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi that “the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs” and should “strengthen dialogue on peace and security,” according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.
Xi was welcomed with a 21‑gun salute at the Ittihadiya presidential palace before talks with el‑Sisi, reports Al Jazeera.
Discussions focused on the six‑month conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Both leaders called for “diplomatic solutions” and a “comprehensive agreement to end the war,” el‑Sisi’s spokesperson said.
The two countries also signed an accord launching the third phase of the Egyptian‑Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal, which already hosts 200 companies with investments worth about $4 billion.
Egypt did not disclose the value of the new phase, but officials said it would deepen China’s presence in the canal zone, a vital artery of global trade, as fighting disrupts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al‑Mandeb.
Xi pledged that China “stands ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard international shipping lanes, advance development cooperation and eliminate the breeding grounds for conflict.” Egyptian officials said additional agreements were signed but gave no details.
Analysts say Beijing is seeking a stronger foothold in the Middle East at a time when Washington appears uncertain about its level of engagement. “The United States looks like it can’t really make up its mind whether it wants to withdraw from the region or be more engaged,” Mirette Mabrouk of the Middle East Institute told AFP. She said China views Egypt as a gateway to wider regional influence, while Cairo sees closer ties with Beijing as part of a strategy to diversify partnerships.
Xi’s trip comes ahead of a planned meeting with US President Donald Trump later this month. Egypt remains one of the largest recipients of US military aid, receiving $1.3 billion annually, and has long played a mediating role in Middle East diplomacy.
The visit also follows the signing last month of the Mecca Defence Alliance by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan. The pact includes a NATO‑style Article 5 clause, committing members to collective defense, though officials stressed it does not replace existing security arrangements. The war has prompted regional allies to question Washington’s reliability, with US officials urging Gulf partners to assume greater responsibility for deterrence.
In Cairo, streets were lined with Chinese and Egyptian flags and billboards featuring Xi and el‑Sisi. Later Wednesday, Xi was scheduled to tour the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Pyramids.
