Over the past decade, Egypt and China have transformed their bilateral relationship, established in May 1956, into a dynamic and comprehensive strategic partnership, marked by robust political cooperation, booming economic ties, and vibrant cultural exchanges. Anchored by the shared vision of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, this partnership, formalized in December 2014, has become a model for mutual respect and shared progress.
High-level diplomacy has been a cornerstone of this relationship, with Presidents Sisi and Xi meeting multiple times over the past ten years through bilateral visits and multilateral forums like BRICS and the G20. A pivotal moment came during President Sisi’s visit to Beijing in May 2024, where the leaders committed to deepening cooperation in industrial localization and technology transfer, prioritizing sectors such as electric vehicle manufacturing, electronics, solar panel production, chemical industries, building materials, and modern agricultural technology. The agreement also emphasized collaboration in media, culture, science, artificial intelligence, and academia.
Frequent high-level exchanges have further solidified ties. In 2024 alone, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hanafy Ali Gebaly visited China in August, followed by Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly in September. Ministerial visits, including the latest strategic dialogue between foreign ministers in December 2024, have strengthened political and economic coordination while fostering mutual understanding on Middle East and development issues.
Economically, China has emerged as a vital partner for Egypt, with bilateral trade surpassing $17 billion in 2024. Chinese investments, particularly in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, have surged, with the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone hosting 185 companies and serving as a flagship for industrial collaboration. Major Chinese firms have driven transformative infrastructure projects, including the Central Business District in Egypt’s new administrative capital, New Alamein City, port development, renewable energy initiatives, electric railways, and telecommunications advancements.
Egypt’s strategic role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has positioned it as a critical gateway between Asia and Africa, enhancing trade corridors and fostering development across participating nations. Egypt’s accession to BRICS in 2024 has added a multilateral dimension to the partnership, providing a platform for coordination in finance, technology, and local currency trade, while promoting greater inclusion of Global South countries in global economic systems.
Cultural ties, rooted in the rich heritage of both nations, have flourished. An increasing number of Egyptian students are pursuing higher education in China, and the expansion of Confucius Institutes in Egypt has deepened cultural understanding. Artistic, cinematic, and heritage initiatives, coupled with a growing influx of Chinese tourists to Egypt’s historical sites, highlight the vitality of this cultural bond.
The Egypt-China relationship is grounded in shared principles of respect for national sovereignty, non-interference, and the centrality of development for security. Egypt has consistently supported the One-China principle and China’s territorial integrity, while China has backed Egypt’s development goals and its stance on regional issues, particularly the Palestinian cause. Enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism and within frameworks like the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation further underscores their commitment to African development.
