China's Xi Jinping to make first state visit to Egypt in decade

Chinese President Xi Jinping will embark on his first state visit to Egypt in over a decade, according to the Egyptian presidency. The purpose of the trip is to meet with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to discuss their nations' strategic partnership and address regional and international matters. While the exact dates have not been announced, it is expected to occur between August 30 and September 3, following Xi's participation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, as well as a state visit to Kyrgyzstan.

This will mark Xi's first visit to Egypt since January 2016, during which he traveled to Cairo as part of a Middle East tour encompassing Saudi Arabia and Iran. The visit is significant as Egypt and China are set to commemorate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, a milestone that has been repeatedly highlighted by officials from both countries in recent meetings.

Egypt and China upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2014, during El Sisi's initial visit to Beijing. Subsequent visits included a state visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in July 2025, where both nations signed agreements on various sectors including finance, e-commerce, health, low-carbon development, and the use of local currencies in trade settlements.

In 2024, China's state trade agency recorded bilateral trade of approximately $17.4 billion, with Chinese exports to Egypt accounting for $15.5 billion. The Egyptian Commercial Service reported trade at roughly $20.8 billion in 2025, with Chinese exports valued at $19.9 billion, while Egyptian exports totaled $819 million. China has been Egypt's largest trading partner for more than a decade, and Cairo has consistently advocated for enhanced market access and increased Chinese manufacturing presence, particularly in electric vehicles, solar components, and desalination technologies.