Cairo: 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, jeopardized 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, expanding investment while managing fallout from the war.According to France24.com, Xi emphasized that the people of the Middle East should be the masters of their own affairs and encouraged opposition to external interference. He expressed China's support for regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security during his meeting with Sisi, as reported by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Xi was received by Sisi with a 21-gun salute at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace in Cairo for talks that addressed the ongoing US-Iran conflict.The discussions highlighted the importance of diplomatic solution s to end the six-month conflict, with both presidents advocating for a comprehensive agreement. Sisi's spokesperson stated that the two BRICS members also 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 aim to enhance China's influence in the canal zone, a critical trade artery, amid regional conflict affecting other trade routes.Xi reiterated China's readiness to collaborate with Middle Eastern countries to ensure the security of international shipping lanes and to advance development cooperation. Although additional agreements were signed, Egyptian officials did not disclose further details.Beijing is pursuing a larger presence in the Middle East at a time when the United States appears undecided about its engagement in the region, according to Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute. For Egypt, closer ties with Chi na are part of a broader strategy to diversify partnerships, as highlighted by Sisi in a recent op-ed. This comes in the wake of US sanctions targeting the Emirati branch of Egypt's second-largest bank, Banque Misr.The United States, having vowed to isolate Iran economically, poses potential threats of expanded sanctions that could impact Chinese banks. China, a significant purchaser of Iranian oil, has pledged to protect its interests and has been working to strengthen ties with US-friendly regional nations ahead of an anticipated meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump.Egypt, a primary recipient of US military aid and a key Middle Eastern mediator, has hosted joint air combat exercises with the Chinese military. Additionally, China remains a major exporter to Egypt, with a trade surplus of $12 billion in the first seven months of 2026. As part of Xi's visit, Cairo's streets have been adorned with Chinese and Egyptian flags and billboards featuring Sisi and Xi. Xi is scheduled to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Giza Pyramids later in the day.