Xi tells Sisi to oppose Mideast interference, Xinhua says

Chinese state news agency Xinhua said President Xi Jinping told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during talks in Cairo on Wednesday that “external interference” in the Middle East should be opposed.

Xinhua quoted Xi as saying that “the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs” and that regional countries should be supported in strengthening dialogue on peace and security.

Xi also said China was ready to work with countries in the region to protect international shipping lanes, advance development cooperation and “eliminate the breeding grounds for conflict”, according to Xinhua.

Xi is on his first visit to Egypt in a decade as Beijing seeks a greater role in the region during the US-Iran war. Washington vowed last month to isolate Iran economically and threatened expanded sanctions that could also affect Chinese banks. China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has said it will safeguard its interests.