Xi's Cairo Visit: A Balancing Act in the Middle East The Egyptian government has long described its relationship with China as "at its best in history," but President Xi Jinping's latest visit to Cairo is about more than just flattery or shared interests.
As Egypt seeks to balance its ties with both the West and the rising powers of Asia, Beijing's investment and military cooperation offer a significant proposition. The timing of Xi's trip couldn't be more strategic.
Egypt is celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations with China, and the Suez Canal expansion – in which Chinese investors have taken a significant stake – has become a linchpin in the country's economic development.