Editor's note: Liu Hong, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

As the shift in global power dynamics and multipolarity accelerates, emerging economies are playing a larger role in shaping international cooperation. Chinese Premier Li Qiang's official visit to Egypt marks a pivotal moment – not just in China-Egypt relations, but in the broader architecture of China's engagement with the Arab and African worlds.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi have met multiple times in recent years and share a deep personal rapport as well as strategic consensus. Their joint participation in global events – including the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Victory in the Great Patriotic War in Moscow in May – demonstrates the strength of bilateral ties and alignment on key international issues.

Egypt's importance in this equation cannot be overstated. It is North Africa's largest economy and a central player in both the Arab League and the African Union. Its geostrategic position – bridging Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean – makes it an essential partner for China, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Economic cooperation has become the backbone of the bilateral relationship. China was Egypt's largest trading partner from 2013 to 2024, while in contrast, the United States' share declined over the same period, reflecting the shifting balance of economic influence in Egypt and the broader Global South.

Investment tells a similar story. In 2024, Egypt attracted $47 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), topping in Africa in FDI attractiveness and ninth globally. Chinese enterprises are playing a major role in that surge. Nearly 2,900 Chinese firms are now active in Egypt, spanning high-value sectors such as electronics, automotive, and renewable energy. Flagship Chinese companies like Huawei, Oppo, Haier and Midea have established a strong presence, creating jobs and supporting Egypt's industrial transformation.

Cairo was among the earliest supporters of the BRI in Africa, and the two countries have steadily advanced joint projects ever since, particularly in infrastructure development. Major projects include the transformation of the Suez Canal Economic Zone, the smart container terminal at the Port of Alexandria, and the construction of a high-speed railway that will connect the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts. Renewable energy projects such as the Benban Solar Park in Egypt underscore the sustainability dimension of the partnership.

Supporting this cooperation is a growing pool of financing from Chinese-led multilateral institutions. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund have committed to financing Egyptian projects in energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Egypt, in turn, has taken steps to attract further investment, including the implementation of wide-ranging reforms, a revised investment law, fast-track "Golden License" approvals for strategic projects, and the adoption of renminbi settlement options for Chinese enterprises.

Egypt's accession to BRICS in 2024 has broadened the prospects for multilateral cooperation. With both China and Egypt now part of the BRICS framework, new avenues are opening for trilateral collaboration involving the Arab world and Africa. Notably, Egypt’s trade with BRICS grew by nearly 20 percent in 2024, crossing $50 billion, according to Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, reflecting the growing economic ties on this expanded platform.

China and Egypt also engage through a range of multilateral platforms. These include the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. These frameworks not only facilitate high-level political dialogue but also support practical cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, energy, education, and public health.

China and Egypt also align closely on international and regional security issues. Both advocate a just and lasting solution to the Palestine question, including the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the two-state solution and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Egypt has taken tangible steps to support humanitarian access to Gaza via its Rafah border crossing, while China has consistently supported political dialogue and humanitarian assistance.

The two countries also share similar views on Syria, Lebanon, and the Iranian nuclear issue, endorsing non-intervention, dialogue, and multilateralism as the guiding principles.

China has consistently placed great importance on its relations with Egypt, as well as with Africa and the wider Arab world. When Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited four African countries, including Egypt, last year, it marked the 34th consecutive year that a Chinese foreign minister began his yearly foreign visits with African destinations.

Zhai Jun, the Chinese Government's special envoy on the Middle East issue, visited Egypt in June and held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and other senior officials, reflecting the continued high-level engagement and close coordination between the two countries on regional and international issues.

Premier Li's visit to Egypt is far more than a ceremonial gesture – it represents a deepening of strategic alignment, a shared vision for development, and China's expanding role as a partner in Arab and African affairs. At a time of global uncertainty and shifting alliances, the China-Egypt partnership stands as a compelling model of inclusive globalization and South-South solidarity.

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