On January 20, 2016 local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in the capital of Egypt Cairo and started his state visit to Egypt.

Upon entering Egypt's airspace, Xi Jinping's special plane was escorted by 8 fighter jets of the Egyptian Air Force. At about 5: 35 p.m. local time, the special plane arrived at the Cairo International Airport. When Xi Jinping stepped out of the cabin door, senior governmental officials of Egypt including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi warmly welcomed him by the accommodation ladder, and guards of courtesy lined up on both sides of the red carpet.

Xi Jinping extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Egyptian people. He pointed out that both China and Egypt are countries with ancient civilizations and the two peoples enjoy time-honored friendly exchanges. Egypt was the first Arab and African country that established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, the two countries have treated each other with mutual understanding, respect, trust and support, and bilateral relations have been maintaining a healthy and stable development. During President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit to China in December 2014, the two sides elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening up broader space for bilateral cooperation in all sectors. Currently China-Egypt relations are at the important stage of inheriting the past and opening up the future. He looked forward to exchanging in-depth views with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other Egyptian leaders on bilateral relations and other topics of common interest so as to make long-term planning for the development of bilateral relations and jointly open up a new situation of China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and other delegation members arrived by the same plane.

H.E. Song Aiguo, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, also welcomed them at the airport.

Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt after wrapping up his state visit to Saudi Arabia. When he left Saudi Arabia, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Minister of State Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban and other Saudi Arabian officials saw him off at the airport. The fighter jets of Saudi Arabia escorted Xi Jinping's special plane all the way before it left the country.

Egypt is the second stop of Xi Jinping's Middle East visit. He will also pay a state visit to Iran.