China's Xi Jinping Calls for New Security Framework in the Middle East

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on Middle Eastern nations to resist external interference and consider restructuring the regional security order, during his first visit to Cairo in a decade, as Beijing seeks to expand its influence in a region impacted by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

“We must adhere to the principle that the people of the Middle East decide their own affairs, oppose external interference, and support regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security,” Xi said during his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

Xi was received by President el-Sisi with a 21-gun salute at the Ittihadiya presidential palace in the Egyptian capital. The talks focused on the six-month-long US-Israeli war with Iran, with the two leaders calling for “diplomatic solutions” to achieve “a comprehensive agreement to end the war,” according to a statement from el-Sisi's spokesman.

The Egyptian presidency also said the two countries signed an agreement to implement the third phase of the Egypt-China industrial zone at the Suez Canal, where authorities said 200 companies are already operating with total investments of about $4 billion. The new investment, though no specific figure was disclosed by Egypt, is expected to enhance Beijing's influence in the canal zone—a vital global trade artery—amid conflicts disrupting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.

Xi emphasized that China is “willing to cooperate with regional countries to protect the security of international shipping routes, promote development cooperation… and eliminate the roots of conflict.” In addition, a series of other agreements were signed, but Egyptian officials did not provide details.

Analysts suggest Beijing is seeking a larger foothold in the Middle East as “the US seems not to have truly decided whether it wants to withdraw from the region or engage more deeply,” Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, told AFP. China regards Egypt as a key partner and a gateway to increase regional influence. For Egypt, strengthening ties with China is part of its effort to diversify partnerships rather than align with a single power.

Xi's visit comes ahead of a scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump later this month. Cairo is one of the largest recipients of US military aid, about $1.3 billion annually, and has long served as a key mediator in the Middle East.

The visit also follows Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signing the Mecca Defense Pact last month. Experts see this as a sign of regional nations' desire to diversify security arrangements beyond the US. The US-Israeli war with Iran has led many regional allies to question the reliability of traditional US security commitments. In turn, Washington has urged Gulf partners to take more responsibility for regional deterrence. The pact includes provisions similar to NATO's Article 5, meaning an armed attack on any of the three nations would be considered an attack on all. However, officials from Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia stress that the pact is not intended to replace any existing security agreements.

Across Cairo, home to over 26 million people, main streets were adorned on Wednesday with Chinese and Egyptian flags, along with billboards featuring images of el-Sisi and Xi. Xi is expected to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza pyramids later in the day.