CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit, marking 70 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greeted Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. First Lady Entissar El-Sisi attended the welcoming ceremony alongside Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This visit is Xi’s first to Egypt in a decade. It occurs amidst ongoing reviews by both governments of their bilateral relationship, which encompasses political, economic, and development cooperation.
The Egyptian Presidency announced that the visit will feature discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors. The agenda includes the reaffirmation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2014 between Egypt and China. Both nations also intend to hold consultations on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Since the partnership’s inception, El-Sisi and Xi have maintained consistent high-level communication. During this period, Egypt has expanded its involvement in Chinese-led economic initiatives, including projects related to infrastructure, manufacturing, and transportation.
This trip coincides with the 70th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Egypt and China, which were established in 1956. Egypt was the first Arab and African nation to recognize the People’s Republic of China. Prior to Xi’s arrival, El-Sisi highlighted the anniversary in statements issued. Xi also addressed the milestone before the visit, with both leaders emphasizing seven decades of bilateral collaboration and the growth of their relationship since the beginning of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
Seventy years of diplomatic engagement
Economic relations constitute a significant aspect of the partnership. According to Egypt’s State Information Service, bilateral trade reached approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from roughly $17.37 billion in 2024, reflecting a growth of about 19.6%. China is Egypt’s top trading partner for non-oil goods, with Egyptian exports to China totaling $840.8 million in the first half of 2026, while imports from China were about $10.4 billion during the same period.
Trade between Egypt and China for the first half of 2026 was around $11.3 billion, an increase from approximately $9.3 billion a year earlier. Egypt exports to China include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese investments and contracting activities are also prominent in key Egyptian projects, such as developments within the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and electric transport infrastructure east of Cairo.
Economic cooperation and developmental efforts
The Egyptian State Information Service indicated that Chinese investments in Egypt have involved projects within industrial zones and the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Chinese firms have also participated in construction and transportation projects, with cooperation extending into renewable energy, telecommunications, technology, and manufacturing sectors. Egypt and China have identified areas like electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, electronic equipment, and desalination components as key focuses for industrial collaboration. Additionally, artificial intelligence and space sciences are part of the broader bilateral technological partnership.
The Egyptian Presidency noted that El-Sisi and Xi will utilize this visit to assess progress on their comprehensive strategic partnership. Discussions will also encompass political and development cooperation alongside economic relations. Xi’s return to Cairo follows his previous visit to Egypt in 2016. This latest trip emphasizes the 70-year diplomatic relationship as the focal point of discussions, with both governments reviewing existing projects, trade relations, and cooperation across an expanding array of sectors.