Xi visits Egypt for first time in decade, says Middle East must decide its own fate

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on his first state visit to Egypt in a decade, said Wednesday (local time) that he opposes outside interference in the Middle East.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi held a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo and exchanged views on the situation in the region.

"China opposes interference by external forces in the Middle East," Xi said at the talks, adding that countries in the region should strengthen dialogue on peace and security, explore a restructuring of the regional security architecture and determine their own destiny.

He said the Middle East faces many pressing issues with deep interconnections, and that comprehensive solutions must be sought. "The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue and must never be ignored or marginalized at any time," he said.

Xi also said China hopes to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes, promote the convergence of regional interests, gradually build mutual trust and eliminate the conditions that give rise to conflict. He called for stronger international cooperation to achieve common regional security.

Although the United States was not mentioned by name in remarks released through state media, Xi appeared to take direct aim at Washington, urging "the international community, especially extra-regional major powers" to abandon double standards, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional states, and uphold security and stability.

The visit, coming ahead of an expected summit with US President Donald Trump later this month, is seen as a move by Beijing to expand its influence in the region amid the prolonged wars in the Middle East.

El-Sisi said Egypt hopes to deepen cooperation with China in trade and investment, infrastructure construction, finance, science and technology, and new energy, and to strengthen military and security exchanges, Xinhua said.

El-Sisi also said China plays "an important and constructive role in international affairs" as a P5 member of the UN Security Council, and that Egypt hopes to enhance coordination and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms to jointly address global challenges and uphold international fairness and justice.

He added that Egypt firmly supports the one-China principle and will work to advance the further development of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi was welcomed at the presidential palace with a 21-gun salute alongside his wife, Peng Liyuan.

After the summit, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents covering joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative — China's overland and maritime Silk Road linking China, Central Asia and Europe — as well as AI, economic and trade ties, and industrial and supply chain cooperation.

The two sides also issued a joint statement on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

To mark Xi's visit, welcome messages appeared on street signs across Egypt, including one reading "The friendship between Egypt and China, passed down through generations, flows like the Nile," AFP reported.

In a written address delivered upon his arrival, Xi noted that Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with China, in 1956, and said the two nations, as important members of the Global South, should practice genuine multilateralism.

During the visit, Xi is expected to tour the Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened last year as the largest museum in the world.

Immediately before traveling to Egypt, Xi visited Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit — a grouping that has emerged as a symbol of anti-Western solidarity — where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders. The summit brought together heads of state from 10 member countries, including Russia, India, Iran and Pakistan, who jointly issued a statement condemning military strikes against Iran.