BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a regional summit in Bishkek and pay state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt from Sunday, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Wednesday. In Egypt, Xi will meet President Abdel Fattah el Sisi for talks aimed at "making a positive contribution to safeguarding peace and stability in the region", foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a news conference. Egypt's presidency said Sisi and Xi would discuss "ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries across a range of areas of mutual interest". The leaders will also "exchange views on a number of regional and international issues", the presidency said in a statement.
The visit comes as Iran and the United States remain locked in a conflict that has choked off shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil markets. The state visit, Xi's first to Egypt in 10 years, "holds special significance for the development of bilateral ties", Lin said.
In Kyrgyzstan, Xi will attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit with other member states, including Russia and Iran. He will also hold talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to promote "mutually beneficial cooperation and high-quality development between the two countries". — AFP
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