Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Cairo, Egypt, marking his first visit to the Middle East since the outbreak of the conflict.
On 2 September 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by the First Lady, arrived in Cairo, Egypt, where he was warmly welcomed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi at Cairo International Airport. This marks Xi's first visit to the Middle East since the prolonged conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran began.
Egyptian authorities revealed that during this visit, the Chinese and Egyptian leaders are expected to discuss strengthening bilateral relations as strategic partners, as well as regional and global development issues. In recent years, although Egypt has been a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, it has maintained defense and economic ties with China as part of its strategy to diversify its strategic partnerships.
President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt follows his attendance at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which lasted two days. The summit included participation from Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran.
Source: AP