Hangzhou – China
His Excellency Nabil Fahmy, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, called for moving Arab-Chinese cooperation in the fields of digital economy and technology to a new stage based on research and development, joint investment, capacity building, and the development of technological solutions that meet the needs of both sides.
This came in a recorded speech by His Excellency that was shown during the fifth session of the World Digital Trade Fair in Hangzhou, China, which is witnessing broad international participation from government leaders, international institutions, companies and experts working in the fields of digital economy, artificial intelligence and digital trade.
Fahmy stressed that the exhibition represents an opportunity to open new horizons for international cooperation, especially Arab-Chinese cooperation, and to enhance dialogue, exchange experiences, and build practical partnerships in the fields of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
He said that China’s advanced expertise in technology and innovation, along with the growing markets and potential of Arab countries and their accelerated plans for digital transformation and infrastructure development, provide a broad base for building partnerships that serve common interests and support economic development on both sides.
He stressed that the next phase of Arab-Chinese cooperation should go beyond the traditional frameworks based on the exchange of experiences and technology transfer, to include joint research and development, investment, capacity building, and the development of technological applications and solutions that respond to actual economic and developmental needs.
He added that many Arab countries have made rapid progress in digital transformation and are working to develop their economies and digital infrastructure, which opens up broader areas for cooperation with China in sectors related to the digital economy and modern technologies.
The Secretary-General affirmed the readiness of the League of Arab States to continue working with the People’s Republic of China and relevant institutions and partners to enhance this cooperation, noting that the Chinese experience in digital transformation and innovation offers important expertise that can be built upon in developing joint projects and partnerships.
He explained that the Arab-Chinese ambition goes beyond traditional cooperation to building broader ties in knowledge, innovation and investment, in order to achieve common economic and developmental value and open new fields for institutions and companies from both sides.
Fahmy expressed his hope that Hangzhou would represent a new milestone in building a deeper, more innovative and sustainable Arab-Chinese digital partnership.
The fifth edition of the World Digital Trade Fair will be held in Hangzhou from September 23 to 27, with a theme focusing on the future of artificial intelligence and digital trade. The fair is a national Chinese platform specializing in digital trade, and is organized by the Zhejiang Provincial Government and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
The opening ceremony of the current session was attended by Li Qiang, Chinese Premier, Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysian Prime Minister, and Adylbek Kassymaliev, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, along with more than 1,200 representatives from about 50 countries, regions and international organizations.
The exhibition is held on an area of approximately 170,000 square meters, with the participation of more than two thousand exhibitors, and includes areas specializing in artificial intelligence, e-commerce, smart mobility, digital health, spatial technologies and other sectors of the digital economy, reflecting the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence in reshaping global trade patterns.
Link to the video of the Secretary-General’s speech:
