From infrastructure to military drills, China deepens footprint in Egypt as Xi visits Cairo

Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed to his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, on Wednesday that external interference in the Middle East should be opposed, as per reports from Beijing's state media. The leaders discussed this during their talks in Cairo. Xi reiterated the principle that the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs, and emphasized the need to oppose external interference while supporting regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security, according to Xinhua, China's state news agency.

Xi's visit to Egypt marks his first in a decade, as Beijing strives for a stronger presence in the region amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Washington announced last month its intention to isolate Iran economically, potentially expanding sanctions that could also affect Chinese banks, among other entities. China, a significant importer of Iranian oil, has pledged to protect its interests in this situation.

During his discussions with Sisi, Xi also expressed China's willingness to assist in safeguarding maritime shipping in the energy-rich region, which has been disrupted since US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, leading to the current war.