Yangzhou, China
Mr. Cheng Haitao, Mayor of Yangzhou City in Jiangsu Province, received His Excellency Counselor Dr. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri, President of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, to discuss prospects for cooperation in a number of initiatives related to the digital economy, investment, and the development of Arab-Chinese partnerships.
The meeting discussed ways to expand the Federation’s presence in China, through the establishment of a regional office in Jiangsu Province, with the Yangzhou City Government supporting the establishment procedures, thus providing a platform to coordinate cooperation programs with government institutions, the private sector and universities in the province.
The two sides also discussed opportunities to establish a Chinese-Arab investment fund aimed at supporting companies operating in the fields of digital economy and advanced technologies, in addition to studying opportunities to finance digital transformation projects in Arab countries, within the framework of the objectives of the Arab vision for the digital economy.
The talks touched on cooperation in organizing an annual international conference on the digital economy and smart cities, hosted by Yangzhou, which brings together officials, experts and institutions from China and Arab countries, with the aim of exchanging experiences, reviewing successful experiences and proposing joint initiatives and projects.
The two sides also discussed organizing an international sporting event that employs the latest digital technologies, including artificial intelligence applications, virtual reality, and smart stadium technologies, thus presenting a new model for integrating technology into sporting events and reflecting the role of the digital economy in developing creative industries and international events.
The two sides agreed to form a joint working group to follow up on the initiatives that were discussed, and to complete the arrangements for them during the next stage, in preparation for discussing them within the program of the Arab delegation’s visit to China scheduled for next September.
The meeting was attended by a number of officials from the Yangzhou City Government, along with Mr. Tang, Head of the Sub-Offices of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy in the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Jet, Executive Director of the Federation’s offices in China, and a number of representatives from both sides.
