CAIRO, EGYPT / RankWire.AI / – Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo for an official visit as Egypt and China marked 70 years of diplomatic relations. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Xi at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan, also attended the airport reception. The trip is Xi’s first visit to Egypt in a decade. It centers on high-level discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral political, economic, and developmental ties in Cairo.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, El-Sisi and Xi are expected to explore avenues for deepening their partnership. Their agenda includes cooperation on economic initiatives, development endeavors, and political coordination. They will also examine the progress of the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was established in 2014. Additionally, regional and international issues of common interest will be on the table. Since expanding their relationship under the strategic partnership framework, Egyptian and Chinese leaders have maintained regular presidential contacts.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. The two nations formalized their ties in 1956, making Egypt the first Arab and African nation to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Both governments have highlighted this milestone as they prepare for Xi’s visit. El-Sisi and Xi have emphasized the growth of bilateral cooperation over the past decade, particularly in trade, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
Seventy Years of Growing Bilateral Engagement
Economic relations have become a cornerstone of the Egypt-China partnership. According to Egyptian official data, bilateral trade reached approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from about $17.37 billion in 2024. China remains Egypt’s primary trading partner for non-oil goods. During the first half of 2026, Egyptian exports to China totaled roughly $840.8 million, while imports from China stood at about $10.4 billion.
Total trade between the two countries for the first six months of 2026 was around $11.3 billion, compared to roughly $9.3 billion during the same period in the previous year. Egypt’s exports to China include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruits, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese firms are actively involved in multiple Egyptian development projects, including initiatives in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transportation infrastructure serving areas east of Cairo.
Expansion of Trade, Industry, and Technological Collaboration
Current cooperation spans manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transportation. Chinese companies have participated in industrial development within the Suez Canal Economic Zone and other major Egyptian projects. Egypt and China have identified sectors such as electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic equipment as key areas for industrial partnership. Desalination technology components are also part of their manufacturing agenda. Their technological collaboration now extends into artificial intelligence and space sciences, signifying a shift from a relationship once primarily centered on trade and construction.
During their Cairo meetings, El-Sisi and Xi are anticipated to review the progress of their existing cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership. The Egyptian Presidency has prioritized political, economic, and developmental relations as key topics of discussion. Xi’s previous visit to Egypt took place in 2016 when cooperation across various sectors was rapidly expanding. This latest visit underscores the importance of a 70-year diplomatic relationship that now encompasses trade, major infrastructure projects, manufacturing, technology, and ongoing presidential engagement.