China's Xi Jinping tells Middle East to be ‘masters of their own destiny’ amid Iran war

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Middle Eastern countries to oppose external interference and consider reshaping the region's security order during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday, as Beijing seeks to expand its influence amid the US war against Iran.Xi, on his first visit to the Middle East in four years, said countries in the region should be “masters of their own destiny” and explore a new regional “security architecture”, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.The Chinese leader also said Beijing was ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard shipping routes, an issue that has gained greater significance after the conflict disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.Egypt and China expand security, economic cooperationXi was welcomed by Sisi with a military ceremony in Cairo. The two leaders agreed to deepen security cooperation and counterterrorism coordination.According to a joint statement, the two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in data centres, semiconductors and critical metals supply chains, while strengthening the use of their currencies in trade and investment.In talks with Sisi, Xi also said the two countries should jointly oppose what he described as “unilateralism and acts of bullying”, Xinhua reported, according to AP. He called for efforts towards “a more just and equitable global governance system”.Egypt, a major US defence partner that receives around $1.3 billion annually in military aid from Washington, has been steadily increasing economic and military cooperation with China in recent years.For Cairo, closer ties with Beijing form part of a broader policy of diversifying its international partnerships. In an article published ahead of Xi's visit, Sisi said Egypt was pursuing a policy of “strategic balance” at a time of increasing global rivalry.“Egypt wants to widen the circle of its relations with major world powers, including China,” former Egyptian diplomat Ayman Zaineldine told Reuters. “So the visions converge.”China sees Egypt as key regional partnerFor Beijing, Egypt's regional influence, strategic location, large domestic market and connections with Africa make it an important partner as China seeks to expand its economic and diplomatic role in the region.“Egypt represents something quite valuable to Beijing – a large domestic market for investment opportunities, and a lot of diplomatic weight in the region, including the Palestine question, as well as connectivity to Africa,” H A Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, told Reuters.Xi's visit comes at a time when China is seeking to cultivate deeper ties with one of Washington's key allies in the Middle East while presenting itself as a stabilising force in the region.Xi's trip to Egypt is his first to the country in a decade and his first visit to the Middle East since travelling to Saudi Arabia in 2022.Growing military ties between Cairo and Beijing were also on display last month during Egypt's “Eagles of Civilisation” exercises with China, which included a rare air combat drill involving Chinese-made J-16 jets and French-made Rafale aircraft.Chinese investment and trade continue to growHome to the Suez Canal and with a population of more than 110 million, Egypt is an important market for China. Egypt imported about $10 billion worth of Chinese goods in the first half of this year.Chinese investment in Egypt has grown significantly since Sisi visited China and signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2014. Chinese companies have invested in container ports, green hydrogen projects and facilities producing iron pipes, car tyres and satellites.Egypt's cabinet has said the Suez Canal Economic Zone has attracted around $4 billion in Chinese investment. On Wednesday, Egyptian authorities announced plans to expand a Chinese-developed industrial area in the zone, while ZC Rubber Group signed a preliminary agreement to study a $500 million tyre manufacturing complex.China has invested more than $10 billion in Egypt, while annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $20 billion, based on government figures.The Suez Canal has also gained greater importance as an alternative route for energy supplies amid heavy disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.“China has good reason to strengthen ties with the country that controls the route still open,” said Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a Middle East expert with Jakarta's Centre of Economic and Law Studies, as cited by news agency AP.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.