Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Cairo Visit Deepens China & Egypt Ties as Energy and AI Take Centre Stage

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Egypt for his first state visit to the country in a decade, opening a two day trip focused on expanding economic and strategic cooperation at a time when the Middle East is facing renewed geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Xi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi are expected to discuss a broad range of issues, from energy and artificial intelligence to transport, investment and regional security. Egyptian media reported that the two leaders are also expected to oversee agreements involving AI, energy and investment in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, an area of particular strategic importance to both countries.

The visit comes as China and Egypt mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, with Beijing seeking deeper influence across a region that has become increasingly important to its economic and geopolitical interests. Xi’s previous visit to Egypt was in 2016, making the latest trip a notable signal of the relationship’s growing importance. Energy and shipping are expected to feature prominently in the talks. China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict involving Iran, while Egypt sits at the centre of major global shipping routes through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. The disruption caused by the wider Middle East conflict has therefore created economic risks for both countries.

For Cairo, the relationship with Beijing also offers an opportunity to attract investment beyond traditional infrastructure projects. Analysts cited by Africanews said Egypt is hoping to secure greater Chinese involvement in its developing AI and electronics industries, potentially helping the country build new technology and manufacturing capacity. Trade is another major driver. China recorded a $12 billion trade surplus with Egypt in the first seven months of 2026, underlining the scale of the commercial relationship but also highlighting the imbalance between the two economies. Bilateral trade was already worth about $19.52 billion in 2025, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

The partnership has expanded beyond commerce. China and Egypt recently held joint military exercises involving Chinese J-16 aircraft and Egyptian Rafale fighters, illustrating the increasingly broad nature of their strategic cooperation. Egypt has also become more closely involved in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, while Chinese companies have invested heavily in infrastructure and industrial projects around the country. But the visit carries significance beyond the signing of economic agreements. Egypt has traditionally relied heavily on the United States, particularly for military support, while increasingly developing relationships with China and other global powers. Beijing, meanwhile, sees Cairo as an influential regional actor because of its diplomatic role in conflicts involving Gaza and its control of one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

The two governments are expected to exchange views on Gaza, Iran and shipping through the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. Both countries support the creation of an independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution, giving them some common ground on the region’s most persistent diplomatic crises. Xi’s arrival therefore represents more than a routine diplomatic visit. It comes at a moment when global alliances are shifting and countries such as Egypt are seeking to maintain relationships with multiple major powers. For China, closer ties with Cairo provide greater economic access and diplomatic influence in the Middle East; for Egypt, Beijing offers another source of investment, technology and strategic partnership.