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 visit is Xi’s first to Egypt in a decade. It coincides with both governments reviewing a bilateral relationship that encompasses political, economic, and development cooperation.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, the upcoming discussions will focus on enhancing bilateral ties across various sectors. The agenda also includes the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between Egypt and China in 2014. Both nations plan to hold consultations on regional and global issues of mutual concern. Since the partnership’s inception, El-Sisi and Xi have maintained frequent high-level communication. During that period, Egypt has also increased its participation in Chinese-led economic initiatives, including projects related to infrastructure, manufacturing, and transportation.
The visit takes place amid the 70th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. Diplomatic ties were established in 1956, making Egypt the first Arab and African country to recognize the People’s Republic of China. Prior to Xi’s arrival, El-Sisi emphasized this milestone in remarks issued earlier. Xi addressed the anniversary ahead of his visit, with both leaders highlighting seven decades of cooperation and noting the expansion of relations since the launch of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
70 Years of Diplomatic Engagement
Economic ties play a significant role in the relationship. Egypt’s State Information Service reported that bilateral trade volume reached approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, compared to about $17.37 billion in 2024, reflecting a growth of roughly 19.6%. China remains Egypt’s largest trading partner for non-oil goods. During the first half of 2026, Egyptian exports to China amounted to $840.8 million, while imports from China reached about $10.4 billion in the same period.
Trade between the two nations totaled around $11.3 billion in the first half of 2026, up from approximately $9.3 billion in the previous year. Egypt exports include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates to China. Chinese investment and contracting efforts have extended to several major Egyptian projects, including developments in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and electric transport infrastructure east of Cairo.
Trade and Collaborative Development Efforts
The Egyptian State Information Service noted that Chinese investments in Egypt encompass projects in industrial zones and the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Chinese firms are also involved in construction and transportation initiatives. Bilateral cooperation now spans renewable energy, telecommunications, technology, and manufacturing sectors. Egypt and China have identified electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, electronic equipment, and desalination components as areas for industrial partnership. Additionally, artificial intelligence and space sciences are part of the broader agenda for technological collaboration between the two countries.
The Egyptian Presidency announced that President El-Sisi and President Xi intend to follow up on the implementation of their comprehensive strategic partnership during this visit. Their talks will address political, developmental, and economic cooperation. Xi’s return to Cairo marks his second visit since his 2016 trip. This 70-year diplomatic milestone takes center stage in the discussions, as both governments review ongoing projects, bilateral trade, and cooperation across an expanding array of sectors.