Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Egypt as part of an international tour running from August 30 to September 3, marking his first state visit to the country in a decade and another major moment in the growing relationship between Cairo and Beijing.
The visit was officially confirmed by both the Egyptian Presidency and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Xi travelling to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Xi’s trip also includes Kyrgyzstan, where he is attending the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Bishkek before travelling on to Egypt. The Chinese president departed Beijing on August 30 accompanied by a senior delegation that includes Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Xi Jinping to Hold Talks With President El-Sisi
During his visit to Cairo, Xi is scheduled to hold talks with President El-Sisi focused on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China.
According to the Egyptian Presidency, discussions will explore opportunities to deepen cooperation across areas of mutual interest while also addressing a range of regional and international developments.
China’s Foreign Ministry similarly said the two presidents will hold in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and international and regional issues.
Beijing said it hopes the visit will further expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and support their respective development and modernization plans.
The precise date of Xi’s arrival in Egypt has not been publicly detailed, although his broader trip is scheduled to conclude on September 3.
Xi’s First State Visit to Egypt in 10 Years
The trip carries additional significance because it will be Xi Jinping’s first state visit to Egypt since 2016.
Xi travelled to Cairo in January 2016, meeting El-Sisi during a Middle East tour that also included Saudi Arabia and Iran. The visit produced a series of agreements and reflected China’s expanding economic and diplomatic engagement with Egypt and the wider region.
A decade later, the relationship between Cairo and Beijing has grown considerably.
China’s Foreign Ministry described current Egypt-China relations as being at their strongest point in history, describing the partnership as an example of cooperation between developing countries.
Visit Comes as Egypt and China Mark 70 Years of Relations
Xi’s return also coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China.
The two countries established official diplomatic ties on May 30, 1956, with Egypt becoming the first Arab and African country to formally establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
Over the decades, cooperation has expanded from traditional diplomatic relations into trade, investment, infrastructure, transportation, industrial development, finance and technology.
The two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, while Egypt’s entry into BRICS has provided another platform for closer economic and political coordination with Beijing.
Economic Cooperation Expected to Be a Major Focus
Economic ties are likely to form an important part of the discussions during Xi’s visit.
Chinese businesses have become increasingly involved in major Egyptian infrastructure and industrial projects, including developments in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the New Administrative Capital and transportation projects.
Cooperation has continued to expand during 2026. In June, the Central Bank of Egypt and the People’s Bank of China renewed and expanded their bilateral currency-swap agreement to 30 billion yuan, or approximately $4.43 billion, for another three years.
The agreement is intended to facilitate trade in local currencies and reduce dependence on the US dollar for transactions between the two countries.
Egyptian companies have also signed 17 export contracts worth approximately $168 million covering products destined for the Chinese market, while Chinese investors have shown growing interest in industries ranging from renewable energy and manufacturing to transport and logistics.
Chinese Investment Continues to Expand in Egypt
Egypt has increasingly positioned itself as a manufacturing and logistics gateway connecting Chinese companies with markets across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
The Suez Canal Economic Zone has played a particularly important role in that strategy, attracting Chinese manufacturers and industrial projects while continuing discussions with delegations and companies interested in establishing new facilities in Egypt.
Recent cooperation has also focused on localizing industries such as wind turbine and solar-panel manufacturing, as Egypt seeks to attract more foreign investment while expanding domestic production.
Xi’s visit could therefore provide an opportunity for both governments to advance additional investment projects and agreements.
Regional Issues Also Expected on the Agenda
Economic cooperation will not be the only subject discussed in Cairo.
Both governments have confirmed that El-Sisi and Xi will exchange views on important regional and international issues, although neither side has publicly detailed the complete agenda.
Egypt’s strategic position in the Middle East and Africa, together with China’s growing diplomatic and economic role in the region, gives the talks significance beyond bilateral relations.
China has increasingly sought closer political and economic engagement with Arab and African states, while Egypt has expanded its relationships with emerging economic powers alongside its longstanding partnerships with Europe and the United States.
A Major Moment for Egypt-China Relations
Xi Jinping’s return to Egypt comes at a symbolic moment for both countries: 70 years after diplomatic relations began and 10 years after his last state visit to Cairo.
The Chinese president’s meetings with El-Sisi are expected to focus on translating that longstanding relationship into further cooperation in investment, trade, infrastructure and other strategic areas.
Xi departed Beijing on August 30 for the SCO summit and subsequent state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt, meaning the international trip is already underway.
With Cairo and Beijing describing their relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi’s first visit to Egypt in a decade is set to become one of the most significant diplomatic engagements between the two countries in 2026.
