Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged Middle Eastern countries to resist interventions and work towards developing a new regional security framework during his visit to Egypt.
Xi arrived in Egypt on Wednesday at a time when several US partners in the region are reassessing their foreign and security ties following months of conflict that have disrupted commercial activity.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received Xi in Cairo with an official military ceremony. During their meeting, Xi said regional countries should take control of their own future and consider establishing a new “security architecture”.
Xi also expressed China’s willingness to cooperate with Middle Eastern states to protect key maritime routes. The issue has gained renewed significance after regional hostilities affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb.
According to Xinhua, Egypt and China agreed to enhance cooperation in security and counterterrorism. A joint statement said the two countries would also broaden collaboration in areas including data centres, semiconductors and supply chains for critical minerals, while promoting greater use of their respective currencies in bilateral trade and investment.
Egypt, a longstanding US defence partner that receives roughly $1.3 billion a year in American military assistance, has simultaneously expanded its economic and defence cooperation with China in recent years.
Xi’s visit has also received prominent attention in Cairo, where Chinese flags and displays featuring landmarks such as the Sphinx and the Great Wall of China have appeared along major streets.
