Xi and Sisi Sign Deals to Deepen China-Egypt Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a three-day state visit, his first trip to Egypt in a decade, as Beijing seeks to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with a key U.S. ally amid ongoing regional turmoil. The visit, which marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, included high-level talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi focused on expanding cooperation in trade, technology, and security, while also addressing the wider Middle East crisis. During meetings at the Ittihadiya presidential palace on Wednesday, Xi and Sisi oversaw the signing of a series of agreements. According to a joint statement, the two countries will explore cooperation in renewable energy, data centers, semiconductors, and critical mineral supply chains, as well as agriculture and car manufacturing. The leaders also welcomed the renewal and potential expansion of their bilateral currency swap agreement, calling for greater use of the yuan and Egyptian pound in trade and investment settlements.