Sisi Welcomes Xi to Grand Egyptian Museum in Symbolic Cairo State Visit

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, where the two leaders toured one of the world’s most significant archaeological collections in a highly symbolic moment during Xi’s first official visit to Egypt in a decade.

Accompanied by their spouses, Entissar El-Sisi and Peng Liyuan, the presidents were guided through the museum’s galleries overlooking the Pyramids of Giza. According to Egypt’s presidency, the visit included the Grand Staircase, the panoramic viewing area facing the pyramids, and the Tutankhamun Treasures Hall, where the delegation viewed iconic artefacts including the young pharaoh’s golden mask and royal throne.

The museum tour followed formal talks at Cairo’s Ittihadiya Palace, where Egypt and China held an expanded summit and oversaw the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation across economic, technological and strategic sectors.

During the cultural visit, Xi praised Egypt’s ancient civilization and described the Grand Egyptian Museum as a world-class institution worthy of its historical legacy. Chinese officials said the visit also reflected Beijing’s emphasis on dialogue between civilizations and deeper people-to-people exchanges, while Egypt highlighted the shared heritage of two of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations.

Xi’s trip comes as China expands its diplomatic and economic footprint across the Middle East. Analysts say Egypt has become an increasingly important partner for Beijing because of its strategic position around the Suez Canal, its growing manufacturing base and its influence in regional affairs, while Cairo continues to diversify its international partnerships beyond its traditional Western allies.

The state visit also coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China, providing both governments with an opportunity to showcase a relationship that has grown from trade and infrastructure investment into broader cooperation spanning defence, renewable energy, industrial development and cultural exchange.

Beyond the ceremonial photographs beside the pyramids, the museum visit carried a broader diplomatic message: both Cairo and Beijing are using cultural heritage as a bridge for modern geopolitical partnership, signaling that their relationship is increasingly being defined not only by commerce and strategy, but also by shared civilizational identity and long-term global engagement.