Hangzhou – China
The Arab Federation for Digital Economy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Zhejiang Province, China, on the sidelines of the Global Digital Trade Conference hosted by Hangzhou, the provincial capital.
The signing took place during a wide-ranging meeting between the AFDE delegation, headed by H.E. Dr. Ali Mohammed Al Khouri, Chairman of AFDE, and the Deputy Governor of Zhejiang Province along with several senior executives. The discussions focused on avenues for cooperation in digital economy and technological innovation, exploring mutual opportunities that serve the strategic priorities of both parties.
Preliminary Framework for Cooperation
The MoU aims to establish an initial framework for exchanging ideas and studying potential areas of collaboration. Proposed areas of cooperation include:
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Exploring the establishment of a representative office for AFDE in Hangzhou to strengthen communication channels with Chinese institutions.
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Considering the creation of a joint industrial-investment fund to support digital infrastructure projects and emerging technologies.
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Encouraging major companies such as Alibaba Group and Ant Group to explore partnership opportunities in the Arab region.
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Opening channels for research and academic cooperation between Arab and Chinese centers in smart cities, digital agriculture, financial technologies, and artificial intelligence.
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AFDE’s participation as an official partner in the next edition of the Global Digital Trade Conference in 2026.
Official Statements
The Deputy Governor of Zhejiang Province emphasized that the MoU provides an opportunity to explore new horizons for digital cooperation with the Arab world, noting that the province possesses an advanced digital economy environment and a business-friendly climate conducive to investment and innovation.
H.E. Dr. Ali Mohammed Al Khouri highlighted that the MoU with Zhejiang Province opens the door for studying joint initiatives, describing the step as the beginning of a long-term cooperation path focused on knowledge exchange and building sustainable partnerships that benefit both the Arab world and China.
Hangzhou… A Global Digital Economy Hub
Hangzhou is among the most prominent technological hubs in China, hosting the headquarters of global companies such as Alibaba and Ant Group, and heavily investing in big data, artificial intelligence, and digital governance. This makes it an ideal location to explore cooperation opportunities with the Arab Federation for Digital Economy.
