The UAE intends to stimulate the flow of mutual investments with the People’s Republic of China, especially in the sectors of the future economy, which serve the business communities and the development agenda of both the countries, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said.
Al Zeyoudi emphasised the need to further improve the relations with the Chinese business community, especially in the sectors of Artificial Intelligence (AI), clean energy, and infrastructure, as well as developing a joint strategy to attract talent in the fields of technology research.
The UAE Minister made these remarks during a meeting with Wang Guihai, the chairman of the Chinese Business Council (CBC) in Dubai, in the presence of several representatives of various Chinese companies, which are a part of the CBC.
“China is a very important strategic partner for the UAE in Southeast Asia,” Al Zeyoudi said.
“We share the strategic visions and objectives through which a golden era of comprehensive economic relations between the two countries was established. During the next stage, we look forward to expanding and diversifying the existing economic and commercial partnerships between the two countries.”
During his conversations, Al Zeyoudi highlighted the most prominent features of the UAE’s world-leading economic experience, the country’s technologically advanced infrastructure, the safe investment environment, the flexible legislation and laws recently introduced by the government, and the various other advantages offered to companies in the opportunity-rich Emirati market.
“At the forefront of these initiatives is allowing 100 percent foreign ownership of companies, and the state’s strategy to attract talent in all strategic sectors, in line with the objectives of the ‘Projects of the 50’, the determinants of the UAE Centennial 2071, and in implementation of the wise leadership’s directives regarding the transition to a sustainable knowledge economy based on innovation and creativity.” Al Zeyoudi added.
The two sides discussed ways to enhance commercial activities between Chinese companies and their Emirati counterparts.
They also explored different measures to foster Chinese investments in the UAE and enhance trade cooperation with the Chinese companies during the next stage to achieve prosperity and growth for the people of the two friendly countries.
Al Zeyoudi said: “The comprehensive partnership between the UAE and China has been reflected through their innovative cooperation. China is the UAE’s first global trading partner and accounts for 12 percent of its non-oil foreign trade.
“In contrast, the UAE is the second-largest trading partner of China in the Arab world acquiring 20 percent of its total trade, while the volume of Emirati investments in China amounted to about $544.5 million (AED 2 billion).
“The UAE ranked first in the Arab world among the list of the 20 most important countries in which China invests, as its total investments in the country amounted to more than AED 34 billion by the end of 2020. The non-oil intra-regional trade between the two countries recorded about $59.89 billion (AED 220 billion) in 2021, a growth of 27 percent compared to 2020.”
The UAE Minister also expressed the UAE’s keenness to attract Chinese companies to establish their businesses in the country, and to benefit from its strategic location as active logistic access to the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The Chinese Business Council is one of the most prominent foreign business councils registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which numbered more than 41 councils.
The council was established in June 2004 and has 186 member companies investing in the UAE in several vital sectors – including energy, construction, communications, textiles, shipping, air transport, logistics and financial services, furniture, and exhibitions among others.
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