The Arab Federation for Digital Economy’s China Tour Concludes Successfully, Marking a New Chapter in China-Arab Digital Cooperation!

Starting on September 20, a delegation from the Arab Federation for Digital Economy (AFDE) embarked on an official visit to China, traveling to Hong Kong, Hainan, Shanghai, and Zhejiang. The delegation held multiple high-level meetings with local government officials, reaching broad consensus on key areas including the digital economy, innovative finance, and smart industries, jointly ushering in a new chapter of China-Arab digital economic and trade cooperation.

The delegation was led by Dr. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri, Secretary-General of the Office of the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Chairman of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy. Accompanying him were Dr. Ayman Ghoneim, Deputy Secretary-General of AFDE; Mr. Tang Tang, Chairman of AFDE (China); and Mr. Dai Zhijie, CEO of AFDE (China).

Chinese local governments highly commended the forward-looking strategies of Arab countries in the digital economy and unanimously recognized the UAE’s leading role and exemplary achievements in regional digital transformation.

Hong Kong Stop: Advancing Digital Finance and Facilitating Fund Establishment

(From left to right: Dr. Ali Al-Khouri, Chairman of AFDE, and The Honorable Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong)

During their visit to Hong Kong, the delegation held significant talks with The Honorable Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong. Both sides focused on establishing a joint industrial investment fund aimed at supporting high-potential digital economy projects. They also reviewed the vital role of AFDE’s Hong Kong office as a communication platform and agreed to further strengthen collaboration with local institutions.

(From left to right: Dr. Ali Al-Khouri, Chairman of AFDE, and Ms. Loh Pui Yin, Commissioner for Investment Promotion, InvestHK)

Additionally, the delegation met with InvestHK to explore cooperation opportunities in cutting-edge fields such as fintech and data centers. Both sides plan to organize a series of promotional events to help Arab enterprises access Hong Kong’s favorable investment environment and global innovation network.

Hainan Stop: Focusing on Digital Infrastructure and Sharing Free Trade Opportunities

(From left to right: Dr. Ali Al-Khouri, Chairman of AFDE, and Mr. Feng Fei, Party Secretary of Hainan Province)

In Hainan, the delegation was received by Mr. Feng Fei, Party Secretary of Hainan Province, as well as Ms. Ning Hongwen, Chairwoman of the Hainan Branch of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT Hainan) and Hainan International Chamber of Commerce. The parties engaged in in-depth discussions on data center construction, digital financial system development, and cross-border data transfer mechanisms.

Secretary Feng Fei praised the Arab Digital Economy Vision for establishing a high-level international cooperation framework and fully acknowledged the UAE’s leadership in advancing this vision. Both sides also explored the policy advantages and institutional innovations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, agreeing to deepen cooperation in software development, smart agriculture, and digital tourism, and to co-host international forums to promote experience sharing and knowledge exchange.

(From left to right: Ms. Ning Hongwen and Dr. Ali Al-Khouri)

(From left to right: Mr. Zhang Yangyuan, Director of International Finance and Investment Promotion, Yazhou Bay Tech City Administration; Dr. Ayman Ghoneim, Deputy Secretary-General of AFDE; Ms. Ning Hongwen; Dr. Ali Al-Khouri; Mr. Liu Jinxin, Director of Investment Promotion, Sanya Municipal Bureau of Investment Promotion)

The AFDE delegation participated in the “Hainan Free Trade Port – Arab Digital Economy Cooperation Exchange Meeting” to explore international collaboration in the digital economy. As a key outcome of this visit, AFDE signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with CCPIT Hainan, the Yazhou Bay Tech City Administration, and the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Investment Promotion, outlining concrete cooperation directions and implementation pathways, thereby laying a solid foundation for strengthening bilateral mechanisms and facilitating project execution.

Shanghai Stop: Co-building an Innovation Ecosystem and Promoting Technological Collaboration

(From left to right: Dr. Ali Al-Khouri and Ms. Zhang Ying, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government)

In Shanghai, the delegation met with Ms. Zhang Ying, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, gaining deep insights into Shanghai’s achievements in data trading platforms, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and e-commerce.

Ms. Zhang noted that the Arab Digital Economy Vision serves as a crucial bridge for regional and international cooperation and highlighted the UAE’s pioneering role in driving digital transformation across the region. Both sides discussed opportunities to leverage China’s technological expertise to support the development of Arab digital systems, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of Arab economies in global digital trade and jointly advance sustainable development.

Zhejiang Stop: Deepening Digital Trade and Launching Regional Collaboration

(From left to right: Dr. Ali Al-Khouri and Mr. Lu Shan, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government)

The AFDE delegation was invited to attend the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo. Led by Dr. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri, the “UAE Digital Discovery Tour to Zhejiang” visited Zhejiang and held talks with Vice Governor Lu Shan. Discussions centered on digital trade, innovative financial solutions, and startup support programs.

Vice Governor Lu Shan highly commended the strategic vision of Arab countries in the digital economy and emphasized that the UAE has become a pivotal hub for global digital innovation and technology-driven development.

As a major outcome of this leg, AFDE signed a tripartite MoU with the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce and the Binjiang District People’s Government. During the “Digital Trade Night 2025” event, the parties officially launched the “AFDE Yangtze River Delta Cooperation Center.”

Media Coverage by Arab Medias

This China tour by the Arab Federation for Digital Economy has not only deepened mutual understanding between China and Arab nations in the digital domain but also yielded multiple concrete cooperation outcomes, injecting new momentum into the deep integration and coordinated development of bilateral digital economies. The visit attracted significant attention from mainstream media in both China and Arab countries, with numerous outlets providing special coverage of the delegation’s itinerary—highlighting the broad influence of China-Arab digital cooperation.

Standing at the threshold of a new digital era, China-Arab collaboration is setting sail toward a brilliant shared future!