CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Cairo on an official visit as Egypt and China celebrate seven decades of diplomatic relations. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi greeted Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. The welcoming ceremony was also attended by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This visit marks Xi’s first trip to Egypt in ten years and emphasizes the importance of bilateral political, economic, and developmental partnerships during high-level discussions in Cairo.
According to Egypt’s Presidency, El-Sisi and Xi are expected to explore avenues to deepen their cooperation, focusing on economic initiatives, development projects, and political alignment. The leaders will also examine the progress of the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, initiated in 2014. Additionally, discussions will cover regional and international issues of shared interest. Since expanding their relationship under the strategic partnership framework, both nations have maintained consistent presidential exchanges.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Egypt and China, which were formally established in 1956. Egypt holds the distinction of being the first Arab and African country to forge diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Both governments highlighted this milestone in their preparations for Xi’s visit. El-Sisi and Xi also highlighted the growth of bilateral cooperation over the past decade, notably in trade, infrastructure, and technological development.
Seventy Years of Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Economic ties have become a significant element of the Egypt-China partnership. As per Egyptian government data, bilateral trade reached approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from about $17.37 billion in 2024. China remains Egypt’s leading trading partner for non-oil commodities. During the first half of 2026, Egyptian exports to China amounted to roughly $840.8 million, while imports from China were around $10.4 billion.
Overall trade between the two nations hit about $11.3 billion in the first six months of 2026, compared to roughly $9.3 billion during the same period in the previous year. Egypt’s exports to China include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruits, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese firms are involved in various Egyptian development initiatives, including projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transport infrastructure east of Cairo.
Growing Collaboration in Industry and Technology
Current investment cooperation spans manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors. Chinese companies are actively participating in industrial development within the Suez Canal Economic Zone and other major Egyptian projects. Both countries have identified electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic devices as areas for industrial collaboration. Manufacturing of desalination equipment is also part of the agenda. Technology partnerships now include artificial intelligence and space sciences, expanding a relationship that was once primarily focused on trade and construction.
During their Cairo meetings, El-Sisi and Xi are expected to review the existing cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership. The Egyptian Presidency has prioritized political, economic, and developmental topics for the visit. Xi’s previous visit to Egypt was in 2016, a period when both governments were broadening cooperation in multiple sectors. His current visit redirects attention to the 70-year diplomatic history, which now encompasses trade, large infrastructure initiatives, manufacturing, technology, and sustained presidential engagement.