Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi's official visit to Egypt, his first state visit to the country in 10 years, at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on September 2, 2026, in this handout picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. (Photo: The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi's official visit to Egypt, his first state visit to the country in 10 years, at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on September 2, 2026, in this handout picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. (Photo: The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS)

At the meeting, President Xi urged that the two countries work together to oppose unilateralism. He also endorsed a regional effort to build a new security framework for the Middle East and called on Middle Eastern countries to oppose external interference.

The international community, particularly major powers outside the region, should abandon double standards, he said, while calling for support for the UN to play its due role in the Middle East.

Palestine remains at the core of the Middle East issue, Xi said, and a comprehensive approach should be adopted to advance shared security in the region.

Xi said China is ready to work with Middle Eastern countries ​to safeguard shipping routes, amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

In 1956 Egypt became the first Arab country and the first African country to establish official diplomatic relations with China. Egypt and China established a Strategic Partnership in 1999 and upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2014.