The United Arab Emirates and the People’s Republic of China have recently inaugurated the Qingdao Integrated External Services Center during the Chinese-Arab Business Forum held in Qingdao. This initiative aims to boost trade between China and the Arab world, currently valued at $400 billion. The forum was organized by the Qingdao Municipal People’s Council and the China-India Business Council for the Middle East and North Africa (CHIMENA), with support from the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Qingdao Commerce Department. The center’s opening was announced by Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, the UAE Trade Attaché in China, and Zheng Zanrong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the CPC Municipal Committee.
The Chinese-Arab Business Forum took place at the Qingdao International Conference Center, where notable figures from government and the private sector, including Mohammed Abou El-Enein, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives and Chairman of Cleopatra Group, spoke on enhancing investment, trade, and broader economic cooperation. Other speakers included Zheng Zanrong, Wang Li, head of the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce, Wang Bo, a member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Mayor of Qingdao, and Mohammed Thaqib, Secretary-General of CHIMENA.
Mohammed Thaqib highlighted that the establishment of the Qingdao Integrated External Services Center (QOISC) marks a significant milestone that could greatly facilitate the $400 billion trade between these two growing economic blocs. He noted that QOISC leverages the strengths of both public and private sectors to foster deeper economic collaboration that brings together not only businesses but also the peoples of these regions through trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Additionally, Thaqib mentioned that the QOISC will utilize the UAE as a strategic hub to expedite the development of an export-oriented alliance targeting regional markets. The center is expected to engage actively in activities such as external industrial zones, international trade exhibitions, coordination of procurement resources, linking business opportunities, and improving resource access, ultimately promoting closer trade and investment partnerships and contributing to the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative.