Xi Jinping Urges Middle East to Reject External Interference, Strengthen Security

CAIRO, September 2, 2026 — Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Middle Eastern countries to strengthen regional dialogue and consider reshaping the region’s security framework, while rejecting external interference in regional affairs.

Xi made the remarks during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday, during his first visit to Egypt in a decade.

The meeting came amid the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, which has increased security concerns across the Middle East and prompted several regional countries to reconsider their traditional defence partnerships.

“We must uphold the principle that the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs, oppose external interference and support regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security,” Xi said, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.

Xi and el-Sisi also called for diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive agreement to end the war.

During the visit, Egypt and China signed an agreement to launch the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal. The zone currently hosts about 200 companies, with investments estimated at around $4 billion.

Xi said China was prepared to cooperate with countries in the region to protect international shipping routes, promote economic development and address the conditions that contribute to conflict.

The Chinese president’s visit highlights Beijing’s growing interest in expanding its influence in the Middle East. Egypt is seen as an important partner because of its strategic position, including control of the Suez Canal, one of the world’s most important trade routes.

For Cairo, closer relations with Beijing form part of a broader strategy to diversify its international partnerships rather than depend on a single major power.

Xi’s visit also comes ahead of an expected meeting with US President Donald Trump later this month.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan recently signed a joint defence agreement, reflecting a wider regional effort to diversify security arrangements amid questions over the reliability of the traditional US security guarantee.

Xi was welcomed by el-Sisi at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace, where he received a 21-gun salute. Streets across Cairo were decorated with Chinese and Egyptian flags and billboards featuring the two leaders.

Xi was also expected to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids later on Wednesday.