China's Xi to arrive in Cairo with Beijing looking to fill void left by US
China's President Xi Jinping is due in Cairo on Tuesday for his first state visit to Egypt in nearly a decade. It coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and comes as Beijing is presented with openings in the Middle East that it has not had in years. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi extended the invitation to Mr Xi, who will arrive from the…
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Cairo for his first state visit to Egypt in nearly a decade, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The trip comes as China seeks to fill a void left by the US in the Middle East due to the US' shifting focus on Iran and its withdrawal from the region.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi extended the invitation to Xi, who will arrive from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan. Both leaders have expressed their support for each other in Egyptian media, emphasizing themes such as joint leadership of the Global South, multilateralism, and the defense of international justice and equity.
Analysts note that the timing of Xi's visit is significant, as the US is embroiled in a war with Iran and is gradually reducing its regional presence, providing China with an opportunity to fill the strategic space. The visit also highlights China's intent to present itself as a rational actor in the Middle East, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
