As the renewed tensions in the Middle East push the region to the brink, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cairo couldn’t have been more precisely timed. This was the second time Xi visited Cairo – compare that to his counterpart, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who visited Beijing eight times since assuming power in 2014.
Xi’s visit from September 1-2 was significant for both sides, though for different reasons. For Egypt, it symbolized a broader shift among Middle Eastern states toward diversifying their foreign policy partnerships. The most obvious recent example was the Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye. For China, the region matters for multiple reasons, but none more than securing its trade and energy lifelines.
The bilateral talks covered the regional conflict and its implications for maritime trade and Chinese investments in Egypt. Considering that Egypt is the second-largest recipient of U.S. military aid in the region, it is important to note how China is going to play its cards after the visit.
Xi’s visit was ostensibly meant to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. The officials claim that this meeting is aimed at tracking the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between both countries back in 2014.
