Xi Jinping arrives in Egypt for first visit in 10 years – Pajhwok Afghan News

KABUL (Pajhwok): Chinese President Xi Jinping has traveled to Egypt for his first visit to the Arab world’s most populous country in a decade, as countries across the Middle East reassess their security and economic ties amid the fallout from the Iran war.

Xi arrived in Egypt on Tuesday, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcoming him at Cairo International Airport, according to Egyptian state television footage.

The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and raised questions about whether regional countries can rely on the United States as a long-term security partner, Reuters reported.

Over the past week, Egyptian state media has highlighted Cairo’s growing economic and military ties with Beijing, as well as Egypt’s role as the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with China 70 years ago.

“Egypt and China have become partners contributing together to strengthening the role of the Global South in the international system,” Sisi wrote in an op-ed published by the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper.

Xi’s visit is the second leg of his second overseas trip this year, following his participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders.

In commentary published by China’s state news agency Xinhua, Xi described the two countries as “close brothers standing by each other” in the face of imperialism and colonialism and said he looked forward to exploring a deeper partnership.

sa