Chinese President Xi Jinping Visits Grand Egyptian Museum During State Visit Marking 70 Years of Diplomatic Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, toured the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, accompanied by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and First Lady Entissar el-Sisi. The museum tour formed part of an official state visit by President Xi that commenced on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt.

During the museum visit, according to the official itinerary, the leaders viewed the Grand Staircase and the King Tutankhamun exhibition hall, inspecting the pharaoh's golden mask, throne, and royal chariots. President Xi expressed his great admiration for Egyptian civilisation and its prominent contribution to human progress, praising the venue as a global cultural edifice befitting the greatness of Egyptian civilisation, per official transcripts. President Sisi thanked Xi for extending congratulations on the opening of the museum last year and stated that the ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations share qualities of openness, inclusiveness, and harmonious coexistence amid diversity.

Following the cultural tour, President Sisi and President Xi held official talks in Cairo to address bilateral relations, joint investments, and regional issues. A joint statement issued after the meetings reaffirmed mutual support on core interests, including Egypt's commitment to the one-China principle and China's recognition of the Nile River's importance to Egypt's water security.

Bilateral trade between China and Egypt reached $14.16 billion in the first seven months of 2026, representing an 18.7% year-on-year increase, according to official trade figures. Total Chinese investment in Egypt currently exceeds $10 billion. During the state visit, officials advanced a preliminary agreement for a tire manufacturing complex in the Sokhna Industrial Zone with an estimated investment of $500 million. The leaders agreed to expand cooperation in security, technology, and industrial sectors, including a third phase of expansion at the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Verification gaps remained regarding the complete list of the more than 20 cooperation documents signed during the visit, which was not immediately released by either government. Additionally, the specific details of the increased value of the currency swap agreement were not disclosed.

Gamal Salama, a political science professor at Egypt's Suez University, noted that Xi's visit comes at a time when China's economic interests are directly exposed to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States, and that China is clearly seeking Egypt's cooperation in managing and shaping regional affairs. The Los Angeles Times highlighted in its reporting that Xi's visit underscores Beijing's bid to deepen ties with a key U.S. defense partner and recast itself as the Middle East's stabilizing power, as regional partners reassess their strategic relationships.

Egypt currently receives approximately $1.3 billion annually in military aid from the United States, according to United States government budget data. Against this backdrop, the leaders also discussed the conflict involving Iran and the United States, the situation in Gaza, Red Sea security, and the need for diplomatic settlements to regional conflicts.

This visit marks President Xi's first trip to Egypt in a decade, following his previous visit in January 2016. Egypt holds the historical distinction of being the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1956, and the two nations upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014 before Egypt joined the BRICS bloc in 2023.

For Egypt, the visit is expected to generate increased Chinese investments in local artificial intelligence and electronics industries, alongside the industrial zone expansion covering renewable energy, vehicle manufacturing, textiles, and chemical fibers. For China, deeper ties with Egypt provide political access and diplomatic leverage across the Middle East, reinforced by Egypt's geographic positioning along shipping routes like the Suez Canal.