Kathmandu— Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Middle Eastern countries to oppose external influence and consider reshaping the region’s security order during his rare visit to Egypt. The talks between Xi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday covered the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, with both leaders calling for diplomatic solutions to end the conflict. This visit comes as Beijing seeks to expand its influence in the Middle East amid regional instability.

Security Framework Proposal

Xi emphasized that the people of the Middle East should be masters of their own affairs and called for opposing external interference while supporting dialogue on peace and security. He 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.”

Economic Agreements

The two leaders also signed an agreement to launch the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal. This new investment gives Beijing greater influence in a critical artery of global trade, as conflict in the region chokes traffic through other key straits like Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. Xi said China “stands ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes, advance development cooperation … and eliminate the breeding grounds for conflict.”

Regional Dynamics

Beijing is seeking a greater foothold in the Middle East as the United States appears indecisive about its regional engagement. China sees Egypt as a key partner to expand influence, while Cairo aims to diversify partnerships beyond traditional alliances with Washington. The US-Israel war with Iran has prompted several regional allies to question the dependability of the traditional US security guarantee.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.