Decade

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged countries to oppose "external interference" in the Middle East and said Beijing was ready to work with regional states to safeguard maritime shipping, jeopardised by the US-Iran war. Xi's remarks to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, on his first visit to Cairo in a decade, come as Beijing seeks a greater foothold in the region.

"We must uphold the principle that the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs, oppose external interference (and) support regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security," Xi said. Xi was greeted by Sisi and a 21-gun salute for talks at the opulent Ittihadiya presidential palace in the Egyptian capital.

Suez Canal zone

The two BRICS members signed an agreement to launch the third phase of the Egyptian-Chinese industrial zone at the Suez Canal, which already hosts 200 companies and investments worth around $4 billion. The new investments give Beijing even greater influence in the canal zone, a critical artery of global trade, as conflict in the region chokes other conduits.

Xi said China "stands ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes, advance development cooperation and eliminate the breeding grounds for conflict." The talks covered the six-month US-Iran conflict, with both presidents urging "diplomatic solutions" to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the war.