Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Middle East nations to oppose external interference and consider reshaping the region’s security order during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The high-level diplomatic visit comes as Beijing seeks to expand its footprint amid the US-Israel war with Iran, a conflict that has disrupted global shipping lanes and prompted regional powers to rethink defence.
Xi and El-Sisi Discuss Security Order and Suez Canal Investments
During a 21-gun salute welcome at the Ittihadiya presidential palace, President Xi told President el-Sisi that regional nations must act as masters of their own affairs. According to Xinhua, the Chinese leader stated, “We must uphold the principle that the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs, oppose external interference [and] support regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security.” The two leaders focused heavily on the six-month US-Israel war on Iran, urging diplomatic solutions to secure a comprehensive agreement to end the fighting, according to a statement from el-Sisi’s spokesperson. Alongside diplomatic talks, the two governments finalized an agreement to launch the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal. The zone already hosts 200 companies with roughly $4 billion in investments, expanding Beijing’s commercial and strategic leverage over the vital global trade artery.
Shifting Regional Alliances Beyond Washington
The diplomatic push coincides with growing regional skepticism toward traditional US security guarantees. Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told AFP that the United States appears undecided on whether to withdraw from the Middle East or deepen its engagement. For Egypt—which receives $1.3 billion annually in US military aid and acts as a historic mediator—closer ties with Beijing offer a way to diversify partnerships rather than depend on a single superpower. This shift mirrors other regional realignments, including the formation of the Mecca Defence Alliance signed last month by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan. That pact includes a NATO-style Article 5 mutual defense clause, signaling that regional states want robust security arrangements independent of Washington.
Did you know? Egypt imports billions of dollars in Chinese goods and serves as a primary gateway for Beijing’s economic expansion into both the Middle East and Africa, combining massive local market potential with critical geography along the Suez Canal.
Securing Critical Maritime Shipping Lanes
The conflict involving Iran has choked commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, raising shipping costs and supply chain risks worldwide. In response, President Xi announced that China stands ready to work with regional governments to safeguard international shipping lanes and eliminate the root causes of conflict. Beyond maritime security, the countries agreed to deepen counter-terrorism coordination and expand cooperation across data centers, semiconductors, and critical metals supply chains, according to Xinhua. These steps align with Cairo’s broader strategy of maintaining strategic balance while expanding relations with major world powers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted President Xi Jinping to visit Cairo?
The visit comes as Beijing seeks to expand its geopolitical influence in the Middle East during the US-Israel war with Iran, which has disrupted regional stability and international trade.
What new agreements were signed between China and Egypt?
The two nations signed an agreement to launch the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal, alongside deals to enhance security cooperation, counter-terrorism coordination, and supply chain partnerships.
How are Middle East nations changing their security strategies?
Regional allies have begun questioning traditional US security guarantees, leading to new frameworks such as the Mecca Defence Alliance signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan, as well as closer economic and security ties with alternative partners like China.
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