Xi arrives in Egypt amid US sanctions threat over Iran

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on Tuesday for a rare Middle East trip as China and Egypt face the threat of US sanctions over financial links to Iran.

Xi and his wife were greeted on the tarmac by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egypt's first lady, along with an Egyptian folk dance troupe. Xi is scheduled to meet Sisi on Wednesday during the two-day visit.

The trip comes during a months-long Middle East war that began when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Washington last month warned of expanded sanctions against Tehran's backers and partners that could affect Egyptian and Chinese banks.

As part of its economic pressure campaign against Iran, Washington last week said it would cut off the operations of Egypt's Banque Misr in the United Arab Emirates from the US financial system. China has vowed to safeguard its interests in response to US measures and threats.

China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has presented itself as neutral in the Middle East conflict and has repeatedly called for a lasting ceasefire. Egypt, a long-time recipient of US military aid, warned against regional escalation after a drone strike hit one of its ports in July.

Gamal Salama, a political science professor at Egypt's Suez University, said Xi's visit came as China's economic interests were directly exposed to the US-Iran war. Liu Jia, a research fellow at the Middle East Institute in Singapore, said Beijing was seeking Egypt's cooperation in managing and shaping regional affairs.

Both China and Egypt support an independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution. The visit also comes as the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic ties.