On the surface, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Egypt this week is a run-of-the-mill opportunity for two countries to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties.

Chinese president’s visit comes amid expanding Suez investment and joint air force exercises.

Egyptian and Chinese banks could be hit by Washington's boosted sanctions regime; Beijing seeking to prop up relations with US-friendly nations ahead of Xi-Trump meeting

Both China and Egypt support an independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.