China’s Xi urges against Mideast interference in rare Egypt visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Middle Eastern nations during his first visit to Egypt to resist "external interference" and highlighted Beijing's willingness to collaborate with regional states in protecting maritime shipping routes threatened by the US-Iran conflict. The meeting, held at Cairo's Ittihadiya presidential palace, focused on diplomatic solutions and a comprehensive agreement to end the war, as both leaders expressed a desire for dialogue on peace and security.

Xi's presence in Egypt, a nation that receives substantial US military aid, underscores Beijing's efforts to diversify its partnerships and reduce reliance on a single power. Both countries signed agreements to launch the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal, a vital global trade artery, and to expand cooperation across various sectors, including data centers, cloud computing, and critical metals supply chains.