Kathmandu— Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Egypt for the first time in a decade, aiming to bolster China-Egypt relations amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The three-day visit includes talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on maritime trade security and expanding Chinese investment in areas such as artificial intelligence, transport, and manufacturing. This strategic move highlights Beijing's efforts to expand its influence in a region traditionally dominated by the United States.

Strategic Objectives

The visit marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China. Xi has called for expanding pragmatic collaboration, while el-Sisi praised Chinese investment and reaffirmed Cairo’s support for Beijing's position on Taiwan. Military cooperation is also a key focus, with recent joint air exercises involving Chinese J-16 fighter jets and Egyptian Rafale aircraft.

Regional Context

The visit comes amid significant geopolitical instability, including Israel’s war on Gaza, the US-Israel conflict with Iran, and disruptions around the Red Sea due to Yemen's Houthi attacks. Rob Geist Pinfold from King’s College London noted that China is positioning itself as a counterweight to the US in this environment.

Economic Ties

China is now Egypt’s largest trading partner in non-petroleum goods, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $20.7 billion by the end of 2025. Egyptian exports to China have increased by almost 200 percent, and Beijing has invested over $10 billion in various sectors including infrastructure projects like the New Administrative Capital and an electric rail line.

Diversification Strategy

Egypt’s approach is seen as a diversification strategy rather than a pivot away from the US. El-Sisi aims to hedge without alienating Egypt's most important ally, the United States. In 2023, Egypt joined BRICS, further solidifying its strategic ties with China and other Global South nations.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.