China's Xi visits Egypt for the first time in a decade

China's Xi visits Egypt for the first time in a decade Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt for the first time in a decade, and during the Iran war, comes as U.S. allies broaden their security ties. September 3, 20264:08 AM ET China's Xi visits Egypt for the first time in a decade Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt for the first time in a decade, and during the Iran war, comes as U.S. allies broaden their security ties. Transcript STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: The president of China has finished a visit to Egypt, which is the most populous country in the Middle East and a traditional U.S. ally. NPR's Aya Batrawy reports on Beijing's influence there.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)AYA BATRAWY, BYLINE: Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Cairo to pomp and pageantry.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)BATRAWY: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Egypt's first lady greeted Xi and his wife as they stepped off the plane to a red carpet, a military salute, a folkloric dance troupe and children wearing T-shirts with Xi's face printed on them. Xi made Egypt his only destination in the Mideast, emphasizing that Cairo remains a linchpin.(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)SAMIR FARAG: (Non-English language spoken).BATRAWY: That's retired Egyptian ...