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Xi visits Egypt to expand trade and Middle East security cooperation

The Chinese leader held bilateral talks with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and signed a Suez Canal industrial agreement.

The short version

  • Chinese President Xi Jinping conducted a three-day state visit to Egypt, marking his first trip to the country in a decade.[ABC News · Al Jazeera]
  • Xi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi signed an agreement for the third phase of a joint industrial zone along the Suez Canal.[Al Jazeera · France 24]
  • State media reported that Xi called on Middle East nations to oppose external interference and jointly reshape regional security governance.[France 24]
  • Total Chinese investment in Egypt has exceeded $10 billion, with annual bilateral trade reaching around $20 billion.[ABC News · Al Jazeera · Associated Press]

Key facts

  • Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt for a three-day visit, marking his first trip to the nation in ten years.[ABC News · Al Jazeera]
  • The two countries signed an agreement to initiate the third phase of the joint Suez Canal industrial zone, which already hosts roughly 200 firms.[Al Jazeera · France 24]
  • Total Chinese investment in Egypt has surpassed $10 billion, including Nile Delta rail infrastructure and New Administrative Capital developments.[Associated Press]
  • Annual bilateral trade between Egypt and China reached approximately $20 billion to $20.7 billion, surpassing U.S.-Egypt trade of $15.7 billion in 2025.[ABC News · Al Jazeera]
  • In August, China and Egypt held joint air drills featuring Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft alongside Egyptian Rafale jets.[Al Jazeera]

What remains uncertain

  • The total investment value for the new Suez Canal industrial zone expansion has not been publicly disclosed by Egyptian officials.[Al Jazeera · France 24]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.