Hainan – China
As part of its tour in Hainan Province, China, a delegation from the Arab Federation for Digital Economy (AFDE) visited a number of smart and digital health projects, including the Ecological Smart City, which houses the smart school and smart residential complex, as well as the Hainan National Blockchain Pilot Zone, the Digital Medical Center, and the Digital Health Exhibition Hall.
Visit to the Ecological Smart City
The delegation reviewed the operational framework of the Ecological Smart City (RSC Ecological Smart City), part of an advanced technological environment within the Hainan Resort Software Community (RSC).
The project includes prominent educational sectors such as the Smart School – Micro-City Future School (iSchool), an international non-profit educational institution offering a comprehensive 12-year program within the international basic education system (from primary through secondary levels), located within the technical campus of the Hainan complex.
The project also features the Smart Residential Complex (iHome), which complements the city’s integrated infrastructure by combining smart housing with modern digital technologies in an advanced ecological setting.
During the tour, the delegation attended a presentation on smart architectural design, spatial planning that integrates green areas, and innovative technologies enhancing environmental efficiency through AI-based urban planning applications.
Visit to the National Blockchain Pilot Zone and Digital Health Center
The tour also included a visit to the Hainan National Blockchain Pilot Zone, launched in October 2018 as an R&D initiative for blockchain technology within the Resort Software Community (RSC). The zone aims to serve as an innovation hub for areas such as digital commerce, financial services, and data integration.
Additionally, the delegation visited the Digital Medical & Health Exhibition Hall under the Smart Service Cluster (SSC), a platform dedicated to developing digital technology applications in healthcare and building a reliable medical data infrastructure. Launched in 2022 as a national initiative in digital health by China’s National Health Commission and other governmental bodies, the platform leverages advanced technologies including blockchain, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things to create a collaborative ecosystem linking health resources at both local and international levels.
Outlook for Cooperation
These visits highlight AFDE’s efforts to study applied experiences in China in smart education, digital health, and smart cities. They reflect the Federation’s approach to fostering practical partnerships that move beyond conceptual ideas to real-world implementation, opening broad horizons for building integrated Arab systems that enhance quality of life and public services, while laying an important foundation for Arab–Chinese cooperation in education, healthcare, and scientific research.
