Xi tells Egypt’s Sisi ‘external interference’ in Middle East should be opposed
The Chinese president said Middle Eastern countries should manage their own affairs, reject outside interference and strengthen dialogue on peace and security.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized during his talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday that external interference in the Middle East should be opposed. He reiterated this stance, stating, "We must uphold the principle that the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs, oppose external interference and support regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security," according to China's state news agency Xinhua.
This visit marks Xi's first to Egypt in a decade, as Beijing aims to strengthen its presence in the region amid the ongoing US-Iranian conflict. Washington has recently vowed to economically isolate Iran, potentially imposing further sanctions that could impact Chinese banks. Recognizing its significant role as a key buyer of Iranian oil, China has pledged to protect its interests in the region.
During his discussions with Sisi, Xi also expressed willingness to assist in safeguarding maritime shipping and promoting development cooperation in the energy-rich Middle East, amidst the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran that ignited the current war.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
