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 greeted Xi upon his arrival at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday. The airport reception was also attended by First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and Xi’s wife, Peng Liyuan. This visit marks Xi’s first trip to Egypt in ten years and emphasizes high-level discussions on bilateral political, economic, and development collaborations taking place in Cairo.
The Egyptian Presidency announced that El-Sisi and Xi would explore avenues to enhance their nations’ relations. Their discussions will cover economic partnerships, development initiatives, and political cooperation. They will also evaluate progress on the Egypt-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was launched in 2014. Additionally, regional and international issues of mutual concern are scheduled to be part of their talks. Since expanding their relationship under the strategic partnership framework, Egyptian and Chinese leaders have maintained consistent presidential contact.
This visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Egypt and China, which were officially established in 1956. Egypt holds the distinction of being the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Both governments have highlighted this milestone during the preparations for Xi’s visit. El-Sisi and Xi have also acknowledged the growth of bilateral cooperation over the past decade, including increases in trade, infrastructure development, and technological collaboration.
Seventy Years of Growing Bilateral Engagement
Economic relations have become a vital aspect of the Egypt-China partnership. According to Egyptian government data, bilateral trade amounted to approximately $20.78 billion in 2025, up from around $17.37 billion in 2024. China remains Egypt’s top trading partner for non-oil products, with Egyptian exports to China reaching roughly $840.8 million during the first half of 2026. Imports from China during this period were about $10.4 billion.
In the first half of 2026, total trade between Egypt and China reached nearly $11.3 billion, compared to about $9.3 billion in the previous year. Egypt’s exports to China include fuels, mineral oils, vegetables, fruit, cotton, and phosphates. Chinese firms are active in multiple Egyptian development projects, notably in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital, and transportation infrastructure in areas east of Cairo.
Growing Cooperation in Industry, Trade, and Technology
Partnerships now extend to manufacturing, renewable energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors. Chinese companies participate in industrial projects within the Suez Canal Economic Zone and other major initiatives in Egypt. Both nations have identified electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, and electronic equipment as priority areas for industrial collaboration. Desalination components are also included in the manufacturing agenda. Technology cooperation encompasses artificial intelligence and space sciences, broadening the scope of the relationship from primarily trade and construction to innovative sectors.
During their Cairo meetings, El-Sisi and Xi are expected to review existing cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership. The Egyptian Presidency has emphasized political, economic, and developmental issues as key topics of the visit. Xi’s previous visit to Egypt occurred in 2016, at a time when cooperation across multiple sectors was expanding. His current visit refocuses attention on the 70-year diplomatic relationship that now encompasses trade, infrastructure projects, manufacturing, technology, and ongoing presidential engagement.