Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to Cairo on Wednesday for a visit illustrating the economic and military rapprochement between Egypt and China, as the war between the United States and Iran threatens global maritime trade.
Published on: 02/09/2026 - 15:54Modified on: 02/09/2026 - 19:16
Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and Xi Jinping agreed on Wednesday September 2 to increase Chinese investments in the Suez Canal economic zone.
On the occasion of the Chinese president's first visit to Egypt in ten years, the two countries signed an agreement launching the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone, which already hosts 200 companies and represents around four billion dollars of investments, according to the authorities.
Chinese investments already play a key role in President Sissi's major projects. They financed the financial and business district studded with skyscrapers of Wedian, the new administrative capital, located 50 kilometers east of Cairo.
Beijing is also a major exporter to Egypt, with a trade surplus reaching $12 billion over the first seven months of 2026, according to Chinese customs.
The two countries are also linked by their military cooperation. Egypt, which under the Sisi administration has become one of the world's biggest arms-buying countries, hosted major joint air combat exercises with the Chinese military in August, featuring the powerful J-16 fighter jet.
Two trading partners of Iran
The announcement of new partnerships, the financial details of which have not been revealed, will allow Beijing to further strengthen its presence in the Suez Canal zone in the midst of war between the United States and Iran, which threatens global maritime trade.
A series of additional agreements were also signed in the industrial, transport and technology sectors, with the two countries notably announcing extensive cooperation in the field of data centers.
The conflict in Iran was at the heart of the discussions, with the two presidents calling for "diplomatic solutions" to put a lasting end to hostilities, according to a statement from Abdel Fattah al-Sissi's spokesperson.
“We must uphold the principle that the people of the Middle East are masters of their own affairs, oppose external interference (...),” declared Xi Jinping, whose remarks were reported by the official Xinhua news agency.
He also said he was ready to work with countries in the region to ensure the security of navigation, shaken by regular attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, strategic for global hydrocarbon trade.
This visit comes as Washington increases its pressure on Iran's trading partners, such as China and Egypt.
Also readHow the United States intends to “suffocate the economy” of Iran
The United States recently issued a warning, threatening to cut the country's now ties to Iran from the Western financial system.
Beijing, a major ally of Tehran, particularly for oil, is on the front line and seeks support from Cairo, whose banks are also targeted.
China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has promised to defend its interests.
Ahead of a reported meeting between Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump later in September, Beijing is seeking to strengthen ties with regional countries close to Washington.
But Egypt is one of the largest recipients of American military aid and a key historical mediator in the Middle East.
Also read: Iranian oil: between China and the United States, will we have to choose?
According to analysts, Cairo intends to use this visit to highlight its strategic autonomy, by showing that it can benefit from its close relations with both Washington and Beijing.
Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, in a text published Tuesday in Egyptian media, praised his "independent foreign policy." He also assured that these two members of the Brics were “partners” to “strengthen the role of the Global South” in an increasingly polarized world.
With AFP
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