From Cairo to Beijing: Why Xi’s Egypt Visit Could Reshape the Middle East

Xi’s Cairo visit marks a strategic shift in the geopolitics of the Middle East. By strengthening its partnership with Cairo and promoting the concept of “regional autonomy,” China seeks to replace Western influence with a new architecture of security and economic cooperation.

A Meeting That Means More Than Diplomacy

From warm welcomes and handshakes to bilateral ties, from regional tensions to a new Middle East, this visit is comprised of various significant key takeaways that could form the basis of any future development in the region and beyond. This signals a lot. China sees Cairo as an important partner in expanding its political and economic footprint. Whatever may happen between Cairo and Beijing will have wider implications.

President Xi in Cairo: Once-in-a-Century Moment

“Soft power is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion.” (Joseph Nye)

“Soft power is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion.” (Joseph Nye)

To completely confine the scope and objectives of this visit to the ongoing regional as well as international uncertainty would be an injustice. Such types of visits are planned months and even years ago. President Xi’s visit to Egypt should not be considered a reaction to the ongoing regional volatility; rather, it just coincides with these developments. The PRC has always focused on long-term planning, unlike the US presidents, in particular Trump, who conduct state-to-state relations on the basis of a give-and-take policy or action-and-reaction formula.

As part of this tour, President Xi Jinping had discussions with the Egyptian premier, Abdel Fattah El Sisi. Both leaders expressed their agreement on major regional matters such as the importance of protecting Egypt’s access to water from the Nile River, maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza, and restating the commitment of Egypt’s companies to the one-China policy. There were economic, industrial, and diplomatic agreements signed by the two nations, with five signed agreements and over 20 more agreements covering areas such as the digital economy, semiconductors, and........

© New Eastern Outlook