Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday (Sep 2), beginning his first visit to Cairo in a decade as the two countries seek closer ties amid growing US sanctions pressure over financial links to Iran.
Xi arrived in Cairo on Tuesday evening with First Lady Peng Liyuan. They were received by Sisi and First Lady Entissar Amer.
As they left the tarmac, the Chinese and Egyptian leaders were greeted by a troupe of folk dancers and flanked by two rows of teenagers wearing T-shirts bearing images of Xi.
The two-day visit is expected to see the presidents sign a series of economic agreements and discuss the fallout from the US-Iran war.
Egypt highlights its strategic autonomy
Analysts said Cairo would use the summit to underscore its strategic autonomy, demonstrating that it can leverage its close ties with both Washington and Beijing.
In an opinion article published in Egyptian media on Tuesday, Sisi highlighted Cairo’s “independent foreign policy”, days after a branch of Egypt’s second-largest bank was targeted by US sanctions.
Washington vowed last month to isolate Iran economically, threatening expanded sanctions that could also affect Chinese banks and others.
China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has vowed to safeguard its interests.
Ahead of an expected meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump this month, China has also sought to strengthen ties with regional countries that maintain close relations with the United States.
Egypt is one of the largest recipients of US military aid and has historically played a key role as a Middle East mediator.
Last week, the US Treasury announced sanctions on the Emirati branch of Egypt’s Banque Misr for allegedly supporting Iran.
China and Egypt seek to boost investment
In his editorial, Sisi described Egypt and China as partners in “strengthening the role of the global south” in an increasingly polarised world.
Egypt, which under Sisi’s administration became one of the world’s top weapons buyers, hosted major joint air combat exercises with the Chinese military in August, featuring China’s J-16 fighter jet.
Across Cairo, a megalopolis home to more than 26 million people, major streets have been lined with Chinese and Egyptian flags, along with billboards featuring Sisi and Xi.
Street signs proclaim “generations of Egyptian-Chinese friendship flowing like the Nile River”, while residents have been warned to expect substantial traffic delays during Xi’s visit.
Xi is expected to travel across the capital on Wednesday, including a visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Pyramids.
At their morning summit, the two BRICS members are expected to sign a series of agreements aimed at expanding economic trade in areas including artificial intelligence, transport and energy.
Chinese investment has already played a key role in the massive megaprojects agenda pursued by Sisi’s administration over the past 12 years.
China has funded the skyscraper-filled Finance and Business District in the New Administrative Capital, the centrepiece of Sisi’s projects, about 50km east of Cairo.
Beijing also has a major foothold in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, where Xi and Sisi are expected to discuss expanding investment as the US-Iran war continues to threaten global maritime trade.
China is a major exporter to Egypt, with its trade surplus reaching US$12 billion in the first seven months of 2026, according to Chinese customs data.
