Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, commemorating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. The visit underscored the deepening ties between the two nations, built on mutual trust, strategic interests, and expanding economic and security cooperation.
China regards Egypt as a key partner in its efforts to enhance westward trade and as a vital bridge connecting the Global South with the Mediterranean region. Egypt’s political stability and historical significance as one of the world’s oldest civilizations offer China a reliable ally in a geopolitically complex area. Conversely, Egypt views China as a stabilizing influence and a crucial partner in its long-term development and economic diversification goals. With shifting U.S. involvement in the Middle East, Cairo has increasingly turned its attention to China's growing military capabilities.
The China-Arab Policy Paper of 2016 frames cooperation between China and Arab states like Egypt around political, security, economic, cultural, and technological collaboration, all within an agenda of peaceful development. Central to this cooperation is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013, which has significantly shaped the relationship through infrastructure projects, trade facilitation, and cultural exchanges.
Egypt’s 2030 Vision for national transformation finds an important partner in China, with flagship projects such as the New Administrative Capital illustrating the country’s modernization ambitions. The China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (TEDA), an industrial cluster developed under the BRI, functions as a hub for logistics, technology, and finance. The Suez Canal remains a strategic artery for Europe-bound trade, and TEDA offers Chinese businesses a platform for manufacturing and logistics. The Iconic Tower—standing at 385.8 meters and the tallest building in Africa—is a prominent symbol of Egypt’s growth, reflecting Chinese engineering expertise.
Trade and industrial collaboration are evolving with advances in smart logistics, automated warehousing, and port digitization. Chinese firms are increasingly introducing cutting-edge technology in sectors such as industrial automation, renewable energy, and digital customs operations. Financial cooperation is also expanding, supported by mechanisms like renminbi settlements, Chinese bank financing, and investment vehicles connected to the BRI.
Military and security relations are also progressing. In the days preceding Xi’s visit, China and Egypt conducted a joint air exercise called “Eagles of Civilization,” involving Chinese J-16 fighter jets operating alongside Egyptian Dassault Rafale and MiG-29M2 aircraft. The drills highlighted the advanced electronic warfare capabilities of China’s J-16s.
Cultural exchanges between the two countries are growing organically beyond official ties. Many young Egyptians now engage with Chinese culture through practices such as qi gong and tai chi, consume Chinese media, dine at Chinese restaurants, and learn Mandarin in schools. These interactions enhance people-to-people connections, which Chinese leadership emphasizes as fundamental to bilateral relations.
The historical backdrop of Sino-Egyptian relations dates to a period of regional crisis 70 years ago, when Britain and France invaded parts of Egypt amid conflict with Israel over the Sinai Peninsula. The United States played a decisive role in calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops, reflecting its then-distinct stance on Middle Eastern affairs. Today, both China and Egypt advocate for peace amid ongoing regional tensions, including recent Israeli military actions targeting Iranian sites and subsequent U.S. strikes on Iran. Unlike the earlier era of European military involvement, European powers have largely called for restraint, while China and Egypt emphasize diplomacy and stability.
With China’s position as the world’s second-largest economy and a major military power, and Egypt as the most populous Arab nation, their bilateral relationship carries considerable geopolitical and economic significance. The recent visit by President Xi to Cairo illustrates the growing impact and attention this partnership commands in both the Middle East and beyond.