Shanghai – China
A delegation from the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, led by H.E. Dr. Ali Mohammed Al Khouri, Advisor to the Arab Economic Unity Council and Chairman of AFDE, met with H.E. Zhang Ying, Deputy Secretary-General of Shanghai Municipal Government and Director of the Committee for Economy and Informatics, at the Shanghai government headquarters.
The meeting focused on frameworks for cooperation between the two sides in digital economy and technological innovation, in line with the Arab Digital Economy Vision adopted at the 2022 Arab Summit, which AFDE is implementing in coordination with the Arab League.
During the meeting, the Deputy Secretary-General highlighted Shanghai’s achievements in the digital economy, noting that the city has established itself as a major hub for innovation in China through flagship initiatives such as the Shanghai Data Exchange platform, as well as development of work environments supporting startups in AI, cloud computing, and e-commerce. She emphasized that these efforts are part of the city’s strategy to transform into a global center for digital services and the knowledge-based economy.
Zhang Ying expressed her appreciation for the Arab Digital Economy Vision, emphasizing that the UAE’s role in supporting innovation and digital transformation in the Arab region provides an inspiring model on which practical China–Arab partnerships can be built.
For his part, the AFDE delegation stressed that cooperation with Shanghai opens broad opportunities for Arab countries to benefit from Chinese expertise in building advanced digital ecosystems, supporting sustainable development, and enhancing Arab economies’ participation in global digital trade.
