Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for a rare Middle East visit, where he was greeted on the tarmac by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the first lady. The trip coincides with looming threats of United States sanctions targeting both nations over financial links to Iran, which could potentially impact Egyptian and Chinese banks under Washington's boosted sanctions regime.
Beyond managing the immediate sanctions pressure, Beijing is utilizing the diplomatic visit to prop up and strengthen its relations with US-friendly nations. The engagement comes ahead of an anticipated meeting between Xi and US President-elect Donald Trump, highlighting the broader geopolitical maneuvering underpinning the Chinese leader's regional itinerary.
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