Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Egypt as Beijing and Cairo look to deepen economic and strategic cooperation during the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
President Xi left Beijing on August 30 for the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek and state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt.
The visit is expected to give fresh momentum to a relationship that has expanded well beyond traditional diplomacy into trade, investment, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and technology.
Economic ties have grown considerably in recent years. Bilateral trade reached about US$20.78 billion in 2025, up from around US$17.37 billion in 2024, according to figures cited by Egypt’s State Information Service.
China is a major supplier of machinery, electronics, transport equipment and production inputs to Egypt, while Egyptian exports to China include agricultural products, energy products, raw materials and textiles.
Chinese investment has become increasingly visible in Egypt’s industrial development, particularly around the Suez Canal Economic Zone. Major areas of cooperation include the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, the Central Business District in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, light rail infrastructure, energy projects, ports and logistics.
Egypt is also positioning itself as a production and logistics base for Chinese-linked industries seeking access to African, Arab and international markets. Cooperation is expanding into clean energy, advanced manufacturing, transport, digital technology, climate-smart agriculture and other emerging sectors.
Trade cooperation has also received a boost from China’s move to grant full tariff exemptions to imports from African countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Beijing. Egypt began benefiting from the measure in May 2026, opening further opportunities for Egyptian producers seeking access to the Chinese market.
The relationship also has a growing financial dimension. In June 2026, the central banks of China and Egypt renewed and expanded their bilateral currency swap agreement to 30 billion yuan, aimed at facilitating trade and reducing reliance on third-country currencies in bilateral transactions.
Xi’s visit carries wider significance for Africa. Egypt became the first African and Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1956, and the two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014.
As China and Egypt mark seven decades of diplomatic relations, the visit is expected to provide further direction on the next phase of cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, industrialisation, technology and connectivity.