Cairo: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo on Tuesday evening for his first official visit to Egypt in 10 years. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received Xi at Cairo International Airport, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

According to Anadolu Agency, the two leaders are expected to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and implementing the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. The Egyptian presidency stated that the visit would focus on implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed by the two countries in 2014. Additionally, the talks will include consultations on regional and international developments.

In an article published Tuesday in Egyptian state-run newspapers Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, and Al-Gomhouria, Xi mentioned that relations between China and Egypt were in their 'best period in history' after 70 years of friendship. He advocated for a deeper, comprehensive strategic partnership and expanded high-quality cooperation under China's Belt and Road Initiative, while also emphasizing the need for stronger cultural exchanges and closer China-Arab and China-Africa cooperation.

President Sisi, in an article published by Al-Ahram, expressed that Egypt and China agreed that an expansion of armed conflicts would not serve the interests of any regional or international party. China's Foreign Ministry had announced Xi's foreign tour from August 30 to September 3, as reported by the official Xinhua news agency.

Xi's last visit to Egypt was in January 2016, marking his first visit to the country since becoming president. During that visit, Xi met with Sisi and attended a ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Sisi has visited China several times, most recently in May 2024. Diplomatic relations between Egypt and China were established in 1956, with Egypt being the first Arab and African country to recognize the People's Republic of China. Historical ties include Beijing's support for Cairo during the 1956 Suez Crisis and Egypt's support for China's restoration of its seat at the UN in 1971. The strategic partnership established in 1999 was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2014 during Sisi's visit to Beijing.