Amanze Chinonye
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for his first visit in a decade, highlighting Beijing’s expanding investment and security ties with Cairo and its growing presence around the Suez Canal.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Xi at Cairo International Airport as the two countries marked 70 years of diplomatic relations. The visit comes as Egypt seeks to diversify its strategic partnerships while maintaining its longstanding security relationship with the United States.
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Chinese companies have invested billions of dollars in Egypt in recent years, with projects spanning ports, manufacturing, solar power, green hydrogen and satellite technology. The Suez Canal Economic Zone has been a particular focus, giving Chinese companies a manufacturing and logistics base near one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
The canal links the Red Sea with the Mediterranean and is a key trade route between Asia and Europe, adding to Egypt’s strategic importance for Beijing as China expands its commercial ties across Africa and the Middle East.
Xi is expected to discuss trade, investment, energy, transport and technology with Sisi. Economic ties have expanded since the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, while a 2024 plan sought to align China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Military cooperation has also deepened.
Last month, Egypt hosted its second annual military exercises with China, involving Chinese J-16 fighter jets and French-made Rafale aircraft. The drills marked the first deployment of J-16s to Africa and underscored the widening defence relationship between Cairo and Beijing.
Egypt receives about $1.3 billion a year in U.S. military aid but has increasingly strengthened ties with China, Russia and Europe as it seeks greater strategic autonomy.
“Egypt sees itself as moving toward greater strategic autonomy,” said H. A. Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute. “It wants strong relations with Washington, but also Beijing, Moscow, and Europe.”
Egypt’s strategic position has made it important to competing global powers. It borders Israel, Sudan and Libya, controls the Suez Canal and plays a central role in regional diplomacy, including efforts to address the conflict in Gaza.
Xi’s visit follows his meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah in Beijing last week, where Palestinian rights featured prominently. He is also expected to visit India and the United States later this month.
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In a commentary published by Chinese state news agency Xinhua ahead of his arrival, Xi described China and Egypt as “close brothers standing by each other” and said he looked forward to deepening the partnership.
Sisi, writing in Egypt’s state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper, said the two countries had become partners in strengthening the role of the Global South in the international system.
Xi also invoked an Egyptian proverb that says those who drink from the Nile are destined to return, recalling his 2016 visit and his impression of Egypt’s ancient civilisation and development.
For Beijing, closer ties with Cairo offer access to a major Arab and African economy and a strategic gateway connecting Chinese supply chains with Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For Egypt, Chinese investment offers capital and industrial capacity as it seeks to develop the Suez Canal region into a larger manufacturing and logistics hub.
The visit underscores the expanding economic and strategic relationship between China and Egypt as Cairo broadens its international partnerships and Beijing strengthens its presence in a region central to global trade and energy.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
