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 the importance of opposing external interference in the Middle East during his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. Speaking to Xinhua, China's state news agency, Xi stated, "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."
The visit comes as Beijing seeks to increase its influence in the region amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The United States has vowed to isolate Iran economically, potentially imposing expanded sanctions that could impact Chinese banks. China, a significant importer of Iranian oil, has pledged to protect its economic interests.
During his discussions with Sisi, Xi also expressed willingness to assist in safeguarding maritime shipping routes and promoting regional cooperation to eliminate conflict breeding grounds in the energy-rich area.
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.
