CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on an official trip to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Egypt and China. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greeted Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday, with First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan, also present at the reception. This visit is Xi’s first to Egypt in ten years, emphasizing the importance of bilateral political, economic, and development cooperation through high-level meetings in Cairo.
The Egyptian Presidency indicated that El-Sisi and Xi will explore ways to bolster their nations’ relations, focusing on economic collaboration, developmental initiatives, and political alignment. They will also review the progress of the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership launched in 2014 and discuss regional and global issues of mutual concern. Since broadening their partnership under this framework, Egyptian and Chinese leaders have maintained regular presidential communications.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations established in 1956, making Egypt the first Arab and African nation to formalize ties with the People’s Republic of China. Both governments have highlighted this milestone during preparations for Xi’s visit, noting the growth of cooperation over the past decade in sectors such as trade, infrastructure, and technology.
Seventy Years of Strengthening Bilateral Engagements
Economic ties form a core part of Egypt-China relations. According to Egyptian authorities, bilateral trade hit approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from about $17.37 billion in 2024. China remains Egypt’s leading partner for non-oil trade, with Egyptian exports to China reaching about $840.8 million in the first half of 2026. Imports from China during this period were roughly $10.4 billion.
Trade between the two nations totaled around $11.3 billion in the first half of 2026, increasing from about $9.3 billion in the previous year. Egypt mainly exports fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates to China. Chinese firms are actively involved in multiple Egyptian development projects, including infrastructure in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transportation networks around Cairo’s eastern regions.
Growing Cooperation in Industry and Technology
Investment cooperation now spans manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transportation. Chinese companies have played roles in Egypt’s industrial growth, particularly within the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Both countries have identified electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic devices as key sectors for further industrial collaboration. Desalination technology is also part of the manufacturing focus. Additionally, partnership areas now include artificial intelligence and space sciences, expanding beyond traditional trade and construction collaborations.
El-Sisi and Xi are expected to review current cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership during their Cairo meetings. The Egyptian Presidency emphasizes political, economic, and developmental issues as core topics of the visit. Xi’s previous trip to Egypt in 2016 reflected a period of expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. This latest visit underscores the enduring 70-year diplomatic relationship, which now encompasses trade, infrastructure projects, manufacturing, technology, and ongoing presidential engagement.