China's Xi to hold talks with Egypt's Sisi during rare Cairo visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo to a staged welcome of folk dancers, flag-lined streets and teenagers wearing T-shirts with his image. On Wednesday, he is due to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his first state visit to Egypt in a decade.

The two-day visit is expected to bring a slate of economic agreements, but the talks come under the shadow of possible US sanctions over financial links to Iran. Washington has threatened to isolate Iran economically and warned that expanded sanctions could affect Chinese banks.

China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has said it will protect its interests. Xi has also sought closer relations with countries friendly to the United States ahead of an expected meeting with President Donald Trump this month.

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independent foreign policy

For Cairo, the summit offers a chance to display what analysts describe as strategic autonomy. Sisi wrote in an Egyptian media op-ed that Egypt follows an “independent foreign policy” and described Egypt and China as partners in “strengthening the role of the global south” in an increasingly polarised world.

Egypt remains one of the largest recipients of US military aid and a longstanding Middle East mediator. Last week, however, the US Treasury sanctioned the Emirati branch of Egypt’s Banque Misr, alleging that it supported Iran. Egypt also hosted major joint air combat exercises with China in August, featuring Beijing’s J-16 fighter jet. Across Cairo, Egyptian and Chinese flags and billboards showing Sisi and Xi marked the visit.

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strengthening the role of the global south