Arabic version: شي يدعو إلى إطار أمني جديد للشرق الأوسط في القاهرة
According to Al Jazeera, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Middle East countries to resist external interference and strengthen regional dialogue on peace and security during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo. Xi’s first visit to the Egyptian capital in a decade came as Beijing seeks to expand its regional influence during the United States-Israel war with Iran.
Xi was welcomed by el-Sisi with a 21-gun salute at Cairo’s Ittihadiya presidential palace. Citing China’s Xinhua news agency, Al Jazeera reported that Xi said the people of the Middle East should be “the masters of their own affairs” and that regional countries should consider reshaping the security order through dialogue.
The two leaders discussed the six-month US-Israel war on Iran and called for diplomatic solutions aimed at a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict, according to a statement from el-Sisi’s spokesperson. Xi also said China was ready to work with countries in the region to protect international shipping lanes, promote development cooperation and eliminate conditions that foster conflict.
Egypt and China signed an agreement to begin the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal. Officials say the existing zone hosts 200 companies and investments worth about $4bn, while Egypt did not announce a figure for the new investment. Additional agreements were signed without details from Egyptian officials. The canal zone is a critical global trade artery as regional conflict affects traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Mirette Mabrouk of the Washington-based Middle East Institute said China views Egypt as a key partner and a route to greater regional influence. She said Egypt’s closer relationship with China reflects an effort to diversify partnerships rather than align with one power. Xi was also expected to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Pyramids later on Wednesday.
