President Xi Jinping made an official visit to Egypt, in the latest sign of China’s commitment to expanding China-Africa cooperation in the face of global political and economic uncertainty.
President Xi, who was welcomed in Cairo by his Egyptian counterpart, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, concluded the visit after witnessing the signing of cooperation documents covering several sectors. According to a report by CGTN, the two sides agreed to cooperate in multiple areas, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), artificial intelligence, trade, and industry.
The report also noted that the two countries, which marked the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, pledged to deepen their strategic partnership.
In a post on X, President Xi said the two countries should “expand the scope of pragmatic collaboration” through development. President Sisi, meanwhile, reiterated Cairo’s commitment to the one-China policy and China’s position on Taiwan, while expressing appreciation for Chinese investment in Egypt.
With the exception of Eswatini in southern Africa, African countries have broadly demonstrated their commitment to the one-China policy, which is a cardinal principle of Chinese foreign policy. This diplomatic alignment has contributed to China’s expanding cooperation with African countries across multiple sectors, including through the recent introduction of zero-tariff opportunities for commodities from the continent.
Egypt, located in the strategically important Red Sea region, is keen to develop greater political leverage by diversifying its strategic partnerships. For Cairo, strengthening ties with China, the world’s second-largest economy, could enhance its bargaining power when negotiating its interests with other major powers, including the United States.
In 2024, Egypt joined the BRICS bloc, of which China was a founding member. The grouping is increasingly viewed as an alternative platform through which emerging economies can challenge aspects of Western dominance in global affairs.
According to AP, China has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, including in the development of a business hub east of Cairo and an electric rail line serving industrial areas in the Nile Delta. Annual trade between the two countries is estimated at about $20 billion exceeding the $15.7 billion in trade between US and Egypt, AP reported, citing government figures.
Under President Xi, China has placed increasing importance on strengthening its economic and political engagement with Africa. This has been reciprocated by African leaders, many of whom are seeking technology, investment, and technical expertise to support their emerging industries and infrastructure development.
The growing China-Egypt relationship therefore reflects a broader trend in Africa, where governments are increasingly seeking to diversify their international partnerships while securing investment, technology, infrastructure, and political support from major global powers.
