CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping made an official stop in Cairo as Egypt and China commemorated 70 years of diplomatic relations. Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greeted Xi. The airport reception was also attended by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This visit marks Xi’s first to Egypt in ten years and underscores the focus on high-level discussions centered around bilateral political, economic, and developmental collaborations in Cairo.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, El-Sisi and Xi are set to explore avenues to deepen their countries’ partnership. Their discussions will cover economic collaboration, development initiatives, and political coordination, including the review of the implementation of the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership formed in 2014. Additionally, the agenda includes regional and international issues of mutual concern. Since expanding their relationship within the framework of this strategic alliance, Egyptian and Chinese leaders have maintained regular presidential exchanges.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Egypt and China, which were officially established in 1956. Egypt holds the distinction of being the first Arab and African nation to forge diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Both governments have highlighted this milestone in the buildup to Xi’s visit, with El-Sisi and Xi pointing to the significant growth in bilateral cooperation over the past decade, especially in areas like trade, infrastructure, and technology.
Seventy Years of Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Economic ties have become a fundamental element of the Egypt-China partnership. Egyptian government figures show bilateral trade reached approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from about $17.37 billion in 2024. China remains Egypt’s primary trading partner outside the oil sector. In the first half of 2026, Egyptian exports to China totaled around $840.8 million, while imports from China were roughly $10.4 billion during the same period.
Total trade volume between Egypt and China for the first half of 2026 stood at roughly $11.3 billion, compared to approximately $9.3 billion during the previous year. Egyptian exports to China encompass fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruits, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese firms are actively involved in various development projects across Egypt, including initiatives in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transportation infrastructure serving eastern Cairo areas.
Growth in Trade, Industry, and Technological Collaborations
Current investment efforts extend into manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors. Chinese companies are engaged in industrial growth within the Suez Canal Economic Zone as well as other major Egyptian projects. Both nations have identified electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic equipment as promising fields for further industrial cooperation. Desalination components also feature prominently in the manufacturing agenda. On the technology front, collaboration now spans artificial intelligence and space sciences, broadening the scope beyond traditional trade and construction relationships.
El-Sisi and Xi are anticipated to review existing cooperation during their Cairo meetings, focusing on the progress within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership. The Egyptian Presidency emphasizes political, economic, and developmental aspects as key topics for discussion. Xi’s previous visit to Egypt took place in 2016, during a period of expanding bilateral cooperation across various sectors. His current visit serves to reaffirm a 70-year diplomatic relationship that now encompasses trade, large infrastructure projects, manufacturing, technological innovation, and ongoing presidential engagement.