Cairo—Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Cairo on Wednesday, marking Xi’s first visit to Egypt in a decade and underscoring the rapidly expanding economic and military relationship between the two countries.

The visit comes amid major geopolitical upheaval in the Middle East, including the ongoing U.S. war against Iran, which has unsettled regional economies and prompted some traditional U.S. partners to reconsider their long-standing security relationships.

 

Cairo-Beijing Ties Deepen

Egypt remains a major defence partner of the United States, receiving about $1.3 billion annually in U.S. military assistance. At the same time, Cairo has increasingly strengthened its economic and military cooperation with Beijing.

Relations have expanded significantly since 2014, when Sisi visited China and the two countries signed a strategic partnership agreement.

Former Egyptian diplomat Ayman Zaineldine said Egypt’s efforts to diversify its international partnerships increasingly align with China’s ambition to expand its global influence.

“Egypt wants to widen the circle of its relations with major world powers, including China.”

 

Military Cooperation Grows 

Military cooperation has become an increasingly visible component of the relationship.

Last month, Egypt and China held the “Eagles of Civilization” military exercises, which included an unusual air-combat drill involving Chinese-made J-16 fighter jets and French-made Rafale aircraft.

The exercises highlighted Cairo’s willingness to deepen defence cooperation with Beijing even as it maintains its longstanding military relationship with Washington.

 

China Targets Egypt’s Market And Strategic Location 

Egypt’s importance to China extends well beyond defence.

With a population of more than 110 million people and control of the strategically vital Suez Canal, Egypt offers Beijing both a major consumer market and a critical gateway linking Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Egyptian government data showed that imports from China exceeded $10 billion in the first half of 2026, an increase of more than 14% from the same period a year earlier.

Chinese companies have invested billions of dollars in Egypt across sectors including ports, green hydrogen, manufacturing, automotive components and satellites.

China State Construction Engineering Corporation has also played a major role in developing the business district of Egypt’s new administrative capital east of Cairo.

 

Africa Connection

Analysts say Egypt’s strategic value to Beijing is also linked to its diplomatic influence in the Middle East and its geographical connection to Africa.

H.A. Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute said Egypt offers China a large domestic market, investment opportunities and diplomatic influence, particularly regarding the Palestinian issue, while also providing connectivity into Africa.

For Cairo, meanwhile, closer relations with Beijing offer another avenue for investment, technology and military cooperation while allowing Egypt to broaden its partnerships amid growing uncertainty over the region’s security architecture.

 

Source: Reuters

Reporting: Alexander Dziadosz & Mohamed Ezz

Writing: Alexander Dziadosz

Editing: Ros Russell