Chinese Premier Li Qiang used back-to-back engagements in Cairo and Beijing this week to tighten economic and security ties with two pivotal partners. In Egypt, Li held talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, pledging deeper cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative across trade, finance, manufacturing, new energy and technology. Cairo will also expand its use of Chinese military hardware, including air-defence systems, signalling a shift in its defence procurement. Both sides agreed to step up coordination in multilateral forums and support efforts for a comprehensive and durable settlement of the Palestinian conflict. Li then hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the 10th China-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing. The two governments issued a joint statement committing to review their decade-old free-trade agreement and to expand collaboration in energy, agriculture, green development and innovation. Li called on Canberra to provide a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies, while Albanese reiterated Australia’s one-China policy and said differences should not dominate the relationship. Chinese investment in Australia edged up to US$862 million in 2024, but remains far below the 2008 peak of US$16.2 billion, according to KPMG and the University of Sydney. The consecutive meetings underscore Beijing’s effort to consolidate influence across the Global South and among key commodity suppliers at a time of mounting geopolitical uncertainty. By coupling defence cooperation with Egypt and a prospective upgrade of trade ties with Australia, Li signalled that China aims to keep both regional partners closely aligned with its economic and strategic agenda.