Xi's Egypt visit highlights China's bid to position itself as Mideast stabilizer
On his first trip to the region since 2022, Xi Jinping presented China as a force for stability and called on Middle Eastern countries to oppose outside interference. The visit coincided with the 70th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic ties, marked by friendly editorials in both countries. Egypt's president praised Chinese investments and reiterated support for Beijing's position on Taiwan.
Xi's arrival Tuesday evening featured a red-carpet reception at Cairo airport, where Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and military guards greeted him amid flags of both nations. The Chinese leader's itinerary included a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza pyramids, and his talks with el-Sissi covered topics ranging from global governance to what Xi termed "unilateralism and acts of bullying."
The economic dimension of the relationship is substantial: China has invested over $10 billion in Egypt, including a business hub east of Cairo and an electric rail line in the Nile Delta, with annual bilateral trade estimated at $20 billion—surpassing the $15.7 billion in U.S.-Egypt trade recorded in 2025. Egypt joined the BRICS bloc in 2023 and signed Belt and Road Initiative agreements the following year, reflecting its strategy of diversifying strategic partnerships beyond its traditional Western alignment.
This visit may signal a gradual reshaping of Middle Eastern diplomatic alignments, as Egypt—long a cornerstone of U.S. regional strategy—expands its engagement with Beijing. Other nations in the region could observe and potentially follow suit, weighing economic opportunities against existing security relationships. The framing of China as a stabilizer versus the United States as militarily entangled may influence regional perceptions, though the practical impact on U.S.-Egypt ties remains uncertain.