Hangzhou – China
The Arab Federation for Digital Economy organized the event “ China-Arab International Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and the First China-Arab Digital Dialogue ” in Hangzhou, China , as part of the fifth session of the Global Digital Trade Fair (GDTE), with the participation of officials, decision-makers, experts and company leaders from Arab countries and China.
The event, titled “Digital Silk Road: A Connected Future ,” aims to develop a practical model for cooperation between China and Arab countries in the fields of artificial intelligence, the digital economy, trade, technology, and investment. This cooperation will go beyond simply exchanging expertise to building sustainable projects, partnerships, and collaborative corridors between institutions and companies from both sides. The forum is a key component of the Federation’s program in Hangzhou, taking place from September 23 to 25.
The event was inaugurated in the presence of a number of senior Chinese and Arab officials, including His Excellency Atef Ahmed Helmy, Chairman of the General Assembly of the Arab Federationfor Digital Economy and former Minister of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt; His Excellency Dr. Hani Mohamed Mahmoud, Chairman of Vodafone Egypt and former Minister of Communications and Information Technology; His Excellency Dr. Khaled Hanafy, Secretary General of the Federationof Arab Chambers and former Minister of Supply and Internal Trade in Egypt; Her Excellency Rkia Derham, former Minister of Digital Economy and Foreign Trade, speaking on investment opportunities in Morocco; His Excellency Ambassador Mohamdy Ahmed Neya, Secretary General of the Council of Arab Economic Unity; His Excellency Abdul Hakim Hassan Ashkar, Deputy Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation in the Republic of Somalia; His Excellency Liu Fei, Member of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Hangzhou Provincial Party Committee; His Excellency Ji Junmin, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou Municipal People’s Congress; and His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Mustafa El Sherbini, Secretary General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy — former Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt, His Excellency Ambassador Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy Hafez, Head of the Mission of the League of Arab States in Beijing, His Excellency Ambassador Ahmed Taher, Ambassador of the Republic of Somalia to the Sultanate of Oman, His Excellency Dr. Saeed Khalfan Al Dhaheri, President of the Emirates Robotics and Automation Association, and His Excellency Dr. Othman Mohammed Al Khouri, former CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Group, where the Federation delegation held meetings and discussions that addressed prospects for developing digital and investment cooperation between China and the Arab region.
The program included speeches by Chinese and Arab leaders, along with discussions on opportunities to develop cooperation within the Digital Silk Road, joint investments, and mechanisms for connecting Arab and Chinese companies and markets . The program also featured presentations of investment opportunities from China and several Arab countries, as well as the signing of memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements between participating entities.
Through this path, the Federationworks to develop a system that links the government, the private sector, investment, scientific research and technology , which helps to move from separate bilateral meetings to partnerships based on clear opportunities and projects and mechanisms for implementation and follow-up.
The forum featured four specialized dialogue sessions that addressed artificial intelligence, robotics and applied innovation, digital infrastructure and mega projects, e-commerce, digital trade and financial services, green technology and sustainable investment , with the participation of Arab and Chinese speakers representing government institutions, companies and international expertise.
The dialogue devoted significant space to embodied artificial intelligence and robotics, given the rapid growth of this industry in China and the increasing opportunities for its use in the service, industrial, urban and energy sectors, in addition to discussing issues of technology transfer, localization, skills development, governance and commercial application.
The forum also addressed the infrastructure required for the next phase of the digital economy, including data centers, cloud computing, connectivity and smart cities, along with issues of e-commerce, cross-border payments, digital identity and trust, as well as new energy, sustainable investment and local manufacturing.
The organization of the dialogue coincides with this year’s GDTE exhibition’s focus on giving more space to artificial intelligence, business applications, and business connectivity. Representatives from 121 countries and regions and 29 international organizations are participating in the exhibition, and its events include activities for cooperation, investment, and linking industries and markets.
This event is part of a broader program led by the Federation in China, aimed at establishing a more sustainable institutional presence and developing platforms for direct communication between Arab and Chinese investors, companies and technology institutions, in order to support the building of new partnerships in the digital economy during the next phase.
