Overview
- Xi arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for his first visit to Egypt in a decade to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations and to meet President Abdel‑Fattah el‑Sisi.
- The two leaders are set to sign agreements covering artificial intelligence, transport, energy and new investments in the Suez Canal Economic Zone focused on industry and data centres.
- China and Egypt have intensified military cooperation with the joint 'Eagles of Civilisation 2026' air exercises, which included a Chinese tanker refuelling an Egyptian Rafale in mid‑air to show logistics interoperability.
- Washington has warned it may widen sanctions tied to the US–Iran war that could affect Egyptian and Chinese banks, a risk underscored by recent US action against a Banque Misr branch in the UAE.
- Trade and investment links underpin the visit: bilateral trade reached about $20.7 billion by end‑2025 and China has invested billions in the TEDA Suez zone, giving Cairo new leverage as it pursues strategic autonomy.