CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit, coinciding with the celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greeted Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. The reception was also attended by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This marks Xi’s first visit to Egypt in ten years, emphasizing the importance of bilateral political, economic, and development cooperation at the high-level meetings taking place in Cairo.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, El-Sisi and Xi are set to explore avenues to deepen the relationship between the two nations. Their discussions will focus on economic collaboration, development initiatives, and political coordination. Furthermore, the leaders will review the progress of the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was launched in 2014. They will also address regional and international issues of shared interest. Since the expansion of their strategic partnership, Egypt and China have maintained consistent presidential contacts.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties established between Egypt and China, which began in 1956. Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Both governments have highlighted the milestone during preparations for Xi’s visit. El-Sisi and Xi also underscored the growth of bilateral cooperation over the past decade, including advances in trade, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
Seventy Years of Growing Cooperation
Economic relations form a vital component of the Egypt-China partnership. According to Egyptian government statistics, bilateral trade hit approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from about $17.37 billion in 2024. China continues to be Egypt’s main trading partner for non-oil goods, with Egyptian exports to China totaling around $840.8 million during the first half of 2026, while imports from China reached roughly $10.4 billion in the same period.
Total trade between Egypt and China reached roughly $11.3 billion in the first half of 2026, compared to approximately $9.3 billion the previous year. Egypt’s exports to China include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese companies are involved in several Egyptian development projects, including initiatives in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transportation infrastructure serving areas east of Cairo.
Growth in Trade, Industry, and Technological Partnership
Investment cooperation has expanded into manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors. Chinese firms have participated in industrial development within the Suez Canal Economic Zone and other major projects across Egypt. Both nations have identified electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic equipment as key areas for industrial collaboration. Additionally, desalination equipment manufacturing has become part of the agenda. Technology partnerships now also encompass artificial intelligence and space sciences, broadening the relationship that was initially more focused on trade and construction.
El-Sisi and Xi are anticipated to review their ongoing cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership during their Cairo meetings. The Egyptian Presidency has emphasized political, economic, and development relations as core topics of the visit. Xi’s previous trip to Egypt was in 2016, when cooperation across various sectors was expanding. His latest visit reaffirms the focus on a 70-year diplomatic relationship now encompassing trade, large infrastructure projects, manufacturing, technology, and continuous presidential engagement.