CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit as Egypt and China commemorated seven decades of diplomatic relations. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. First Lady Entissar El-Sisi was also present at the reception, alongside Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This marks Xi’s first trip to Egypt in a decade. The visit occurs amid ongoing discussions between both governments about a relationship that encompasses political, economic, and developmental cooperation.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, the trip will feature discussions aimed at bolstering bilateral ties across various sectors. The agenda additionally highlights the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that Egypt and China initiated in 2014. Both nations are scheduled to consult on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Since the partnership’s inception, El-Sisi and Xi have maintained regular high-level contact. Egypt has also increased its engagement in China-supported economic initiatives, including projects related to infrastructure, manufacturing, and transportation.
This visit aligns with the 70th anniversary of Egypt-China diplomatic relations. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1956, with Egypt being the first Arab and African nation to recognize the People’s Republic of China. El-Sisi emphasized this milestone in statements released before Xi’s arrival, while Xi also addressed the significance of the anniversary prior to his visit. Both leaders highlighted seven decades of collaboration and the growth of their relationship since the establishment of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Seventy years of diplomatic engagement
Economic relations constitute a significant aspect of this partnership. The Egyptian State Information Service noted that bilateral trade hit approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from around $17.37 billion in 2024, representing an increase of roughly 19.6%. China is Egypt’s primary trading partner for non-oil commodities. During the first half of 2026, Egyptian exports to China reached $840.8 million, while imports from China totaled about $10.4 billion during the same period.
Trade between Egypt and China amounted to roughly $11.3 billion in the first six months of 2026, rising from about $9.3 billion during the same period the previous year. Egypt exports products such as fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates to China. Furthermore, Chinese investments and contracting efforts continue to support major Egyptian projects, including developments within the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and electric transport infrastructure east of Cairo.
Economic and developmental cooperation
According to the Egyptian State Information Service, Chinese investments in Egypt include projects in industrial zones and the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Chinese companies are also involved in construction and transportation initiatives. The scope of cooperation now extends into renewable energy, telecommunications, technology, and manufacturing sectors. Egypt and China have identified areas such as electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, electronic equipment, and desalination components for industrial collaboration. Additionally, artificial intelligence and space sciences are integral parts of their broader bilateral technology partnership.
The Egyptian Presidency mentioned that El-Sisi and Xi will utilize this visit to review the progress of their comprehensive strategic partnership. Their discussions will also address political and developmental collaboration alongside economic relations. Xi’s return to Cairo follows his visit to Egypt in 2016. The upcoming visit underscores the importance of the 70-year diplomatic relationship, as both governments revisit ongoing projects, bilateral trade, and cooperation across an expanding range of sectors.