Xi Jinping says Middle East "masters of their own destiny" as he urges rejecting interference

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Cairo on Wednesday, called on Middle Eastern countries to reject outside interference and pursue a new regional security arrangement, according to Chinese state media. His remarks came during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, where Xi also proposed cooperating to protect shipping routes after months of conflict disrupted traffic through key waterways. The leaders agreed to deepen security and counterterrorism coordination, broaden joint work on data centers, semiconductors, and critical minerals, and increase use of their currencies in trade and investment. Egypt receives billions in US military aid but has been expanding Chinese economic ties as part of a strategy to diversify partners. Xi’s first Middle East visit in four years signals China’s effort to enlarge its economic and diplomatic influence while US allies reassess their relationships amid the US-Iran war.