Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Middle Eastern countries to oppose external interference and consider a new regional security framework during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday.
The visit, Xi’s first to Egypt in a decade, comes as Beijing seeks a larger regional role amid the six-month US-Israel war with Iran and growing questions over existing security arrangements.
Xi said Middle Eastern countries should be masters of their own affairs and strengthen dialogue on peace and security, while China was prepared to help safeguard international shipping routes.
Conflict has disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, increasing concern over key trade corridors.
Xi and el-Sisi also called for diplomatic solutions and a comprehensive agreement to end the war.
The two countries agreed to deepen security cooperation and counterterrorism coordination, according to Xinhua.
The visit follows last month’s Mecca Defence Alliance between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan, a pact containing a NATO-style mutual-defence clause.
Officials from the three countries have said the agreement is not intended to replace existing security arrangements.
Egypt and China also moved to broaden economic ties, including an agreement to launch the third phase of a Chinese-developed industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
Egyptian officials say the zone already hosts about 200 companies and roughly $4 billion in Chinese investment.
ZC Rubber Group separately signed a preliminary agreement to study a $500 million tyre manufacturing complex.
A joint statement said the two sides would also expand cooperation in data centres, semiconductors and critical-metals supply chains, while increasing use of their currencies in trade and investment.
Egypt receives about $1.3 billion annually in US military aid but has expanded cooperation with China as Cairo pursues what el-Sisi described as “strategic balance.”
Military ties were highlighted last month in joint “Eagles of Civilization” exercises involving Chinese-made J-16 jets and French-made Rafale aircraft.
Xi was welcomed with a military ceremony and a 21-gun salute, while Chinese and Egyptian flags lined major streets across Cairo.