Chinese Middle East envoy visits Cairo following Gulf tour

CAIRO - 17 March 2026: China’s special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, arrived in Cairo on Monday evening following a regional tour of the Gulf, according to Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang.

In a Monday statement, the Ambassador said the envoy's visit to Egypt follows stops in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, as well as a phone call with the Qatari Foreign Minister, all aimed at fostering regional de-escalation.

Zhai Jun reaffirmed China’s position on the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of Gulf territories and protecting civilians, stressing that instability serves no one and that a ceasefire is the primary exit strategy from the crisis, according to the ambassador's statement.

Liao Liqiang emphasized that Egypt and China both reject the use of military force, instead advocating for diplomacy and dialogue.

This visit follows a phone call between the foreign ministers of Egypt and China, who discussed recent regional developments.

Both ministers underscored the importance of combining regional and international efforts to reduce tensions, warning that continued military escalation threatens both regional and international peace and security.

The ministers stressed the urgency of intensive coordination to contain the conflict and prevent the region from sliding into wider confrontations.

They reiterated that a diplomatic solution remains the only viable path to contain the crisis, calling for continued communication with all involved parties to bring an end to the war.