CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit as Egypt and China marked 70 years of diplomatic relations. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. First Lady Entissar El-Sisi also attended the reception alongside Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This marks Xi’s first visit to Egypt in a decade, coinciding with both nations reviewing a broad partnership spanning political, economic, and developmental cooperation.
The Egyptian Presidency announced that discussions during the visit will focus on strengthening bilateral ties across various fields. The agenda includes the 2014-established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Egypt and China. Both countries plan 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 engagement. Egypt has also increased its involvement in China-related economic projects, particularly in infrastructure, manufacturing, and transportation sectors.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations, which began in 1956, making Egypt the first Arab and African nation to recognize the People’s Republic of China. El-Sisi mentioned the milestone in statements issued before Xi’s arrival, while Xi highlighted the anniversary ahead of his trip. Both leaders acknowledged seven decades of cooperation and the growth of their relationship since establishing the strategic partnership.
Seventy Years of Diplomatic Engagement
Economic relations are a key component of the partnership. The State Information Service reported bilateral trade amounted to approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from roughly $17.37 billion in 2024, reflecting an increase of about 19.6%. China remains Egypt’s top trading partner for non-oil goods. In the first half of 2026, Egyptian exports to China reached $840.8 million, while imports from China were around $10.4 billion for the same period.
Trade between the two nations hit roughly $11.3 billion in the first half of 2026, rising from about $9.3 billion in the previous year. Egypt’s exports to China include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese investments and contracting efforts also support several major Egyptian projects, such as those in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and electric transportation infrastructure east of Cairo.
Economic Cooperation and Development Initiatives
According to the State Information Service, Chinese investments in Egypt encompass industrial zones and projects within the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Chinese firms are involved in construction, transportation, renewable energy, telecommunications, technology, and manufacturing sectors. Areas identified for industrial cooperation include electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, electronic equipment, and desalination components. Collaborations also extend into artificial intelligence and space sciences within their broader technological partnership.
The Egyptian Presidency stated that El-Sisi and Xi will review the implementation of their strategic partnership during the visit. Discussions will also address political, developmental, and economic cooperation. Xi’s return to Cairo follows his 2016 visit, with the current trip emphasizing the 70-year diplomatic relationship as both governments examine ongoing projects, bilateral trade, and cooperation across an expanding range of fields.