Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (center R) walks next to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the guard of honour at the Cairo International Airport on September 1, 2026. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt on September 1, making a rare trip to the Middle East as both countries face the threat of US sanctions over financial links to Iran. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)