China's President Xi Jinping (center L) along with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi watch Egyptian artists performing during a welcome ceremony at the Cairo International Airport on September 1, 2026. 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)