Xi’an (China)

 The Arab Federation for Digital Economy participated in the Digital Economy Industry Development Forum, which concluded today in Xi’an, China’s first economic capital and one of the most prominent centers of innovation and digital development.

The forum, co-organized by AIM International, aimed to build a shared vision for the future of the global digital economy and enhance cooperation between Arab countries and the People’s Republic of China in the fields of digital innovation and sustainable development.

His Excellency Dr. Ali Mohamed Al Khouri, Advisor to the Council of Arab Economic Unity and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, delivered the keynote opening speech at the forum yesterday, entitled: “Prospects for International Cooperation”, in which he praised the tremendous technological and economic progress achieved by China in recent years, stressing that China’s pioneering experience in developing the digital economy represents a model that Arab countries can benefit from and achieve sustainable economic growth based on digital innovation.

He stressed that the digital economy has become a fundamental element in the global economy today, with expectations that its value will exceed $23 trillion by 2030, i.e. a contribution exceeding 20% ​​of the global GDP, noting that the Arab region is on the cusp of a digital revolution, and he expected the digital economy to contribute more than $1 trillion to the region’s GDP over the next decade. However, this requires focusing on vital sectors such as financial technology, e-commerce, digital healthcare and smart cities, noting that China could be a major driver of this growth.

Al-Khouri explained that the Union works through the “Arab Vision for the Digital Economy” to support decision-makers in the region, which sets a comprehensive framework to address digital challenges in the areas of infrastructure, digital government, innovation, and human capacity building.

He expected that these transformations would contribute to addressing the issue of unemployment and creating more than 5 million job opportunities in the Arab world by 2030.

In the context of his talk about the digital successes in some Arab countries, he referred to the periodic report “Arab Digital Economy Index” issued by the Union to monitor and evaluate the progress of the digital economy in the region, noting that the results of the recent report show remarkable progress in adopting digital practices.

He pointed to the experience of the UAE, which ranks first in the index, and how it was able, through national investments in developing digital infrastructure and logistics services, to raise the volume of foreign trade to 3.5 trillion dirhams in 2023, compared to 1.5 trillion in 2013, which demonstrates the potential of the digital economy in raising national competitive capabilities. He stressed that the opportunities available between Arab countries and China are great and that the time has come to activate these partnerships more.

The forum witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Xi’an Municipality and the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, signed by Dr. Ali Al-Khouri, Chairman of the Federation, and Ming Hao, Vice Mayor of Xi’an City, aiming to establish a structured framework for cooperation in various fields, including participation in reviewing and developing the Arab Vision for Digital Economy for the latest edition for the years 2026-2030, technical cooperation in the Arab Digital Education Platform (edu4arab.org) initiatives to support digital education at the level of the Arab region, and the e-commerce platform arabfoodhub.com, as well as cooperation in implementing joint projects in smart city technologies and cybersecurity, and coordination between the two parties to support small and medium-sized enterprises and enhance the skills of the workforce in digital fields.

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Darmaki, Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, delivered a speech in which he stressed the great opportunities available to deepen cooperation between the two sides, such as developing e-commerce and smart infrastructure projects, which can contribute to enhancing economic integration between Arab countries and China.

Al Darmaki said that partnerships between the public and private sectors will contribute to accelerating digital transformation and achieving sustainable development in the Arab region. He added: “We are here to invite Chinese companies to enter the Arab markets, and we are fully prepared to support them and facilitate these partnerships in a way that serves the interests of all.”

Al Darmaki explained that cooperation with China is a great opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise and develop innovative digital solutions that meet the needs of the Arab region in various fields such as education, health, trade and services.

In the context of the meetings held within the forum’s activities, the Union participated in the dialogue sessions, in addition to a number of meetings with a number of major companies and officials in China to discuss opportunities for joint cooperation in the field of digital transformation between China and Arab countries.

Topics discussed included developing smart cities, enhancing cybersecurity and agreeing to implement pilot projects including creating smart infrastructure and improving data protection.

Richard Kirby, a former UN expert and digital government expert and advisor to the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, pointed out that cooperation between China and Arab countries could constitute a global model for digital development and smart infrastructure, which we will seek to achieve by supporting sustainable partnerships and cooperation.

Kirby pointed out the importance of working to enhance cybersecurity and smart infrastructure, noting that investing in advanced technology will play a major role in creating a safe and sustainable digital environment that supports innovation and ensures business continuity.

The Mayor of Xi’an City praised the great digital development witnessed by the UAE, and stressed the importance of cooperation with all Arab countries to provide advanced digital services and enhance infrastructure in the region. He pointed out that cooperation with the UAE and Arab countries constitutes a unique opportunity to support digital development and contribute to building a strong digital economy that serves all parties.

The mayor of Xi’an praised the Arab Digital Economy Vision initiative as a bridge to the future that will enable Arab countries, through technology, to transform their economies to become more flexible, inclusive and innovative, with unprecedented potential for sustainable growth.

He added that Xi’an City is ready to provide full support and expertise to enhance partnerships in the fields of modern technology and digital infrastructure, noting that this cooperation will enhance the region’s ability to keep pace with global developments in this field.

The forum stressed the importance of this cooperation being the beginning of a series of joint initiatives aimed at developing the digital infrastructure and strengthening local economies in Arab countries and China alike, and the need to develop clear executive plans to follow up on the implementation of the projects and initiatives that were discussed in a way that ensures the achievement of common goals on the ground, noting that the digital future requires collective effort and close cooperation between governments and the private sector, in a way that serves common interests and contributes to building a strong and sustainable global economy.