Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The 10th Arab-China Business Conference — being held under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on June 11-12 — is an unprecedented shift in Arab-Chinese economic relations, said Saudi Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih.
The event — organized by the Ministry of Investment in partnership with the Union of Arab Chambers, the League of Arab States, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) — is aimed at bolstering trade and economic alliances between Arab and Chinese business communities and to explore a variety of investment opportunities.
The sectors in focus include technology, renewable energy, agriculture, real estate, minerals, and supply chains. In a bid to drive a significant transformation in Arab-Chinese economic relations, the conference will feature several dialogue sessions and bilateral meetings.
The comprehensive two-day program features eight main dialogue sessions, 18 workshops, and several one-on-one meetings with distinguished delegates.
The overarching goal is to foster initiatives and opportunities that will intensify institutional cooperation between China and the Arab countries, leading to strengthened economic relations.
Several dignitaries will participate in the conference’s opening session, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Vice Chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Hu Chunhua, and Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih. Other sessions will witness participation from a host of Saudi and Arab ministers.
Discussions in the first session will revolve around “investment and financing along the Belt and Road Initiative,” with representatives from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China, and the Saudi ACWA Power Company. The session will be moderated by Lara Habib, Al-Arabiya TV presenter.
This will be followed by a symposium on reimagining future cities through giga projects, featuring the CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and NEOM CEO Eng. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, with moderation by Xinchen Xu from CGTN.
Subsequent sessions will delve into topics such as clean energy production, carbon emissions reduction, tourism and entertainment’s role in economic diversification, food security and agriculture, industry, mining, and minerals. Notable participants include representatives from Saudi ACWA Power, Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saudi Aramco, Alfanar group, Chinese CITIC Capital, CGL, and S&P Global (China) Ratings.
The second day of the conference will feature discussions on logistics, supply chain and infrastructure resilience, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI), and the role of the financial sector in strengthening Arab-China businesses.
Participants will include executives from Egypt’s GAFI, China State Construction International Holdings, Xpeng Inc, Agility Public Warehousing Company, SPIMACO, Hevolution Foundation, ClinGroup, BGI China, HitGen Inc. Healthcare, International Business SenseTime, Legend Holdings, Baidu, Mumtalakat, Bank of China International Holdings, CIC, Riyadh Bank, and CICC.
Throughout the conference, specialized workshops will take place, focusing on supply chains, research and innovation, mining, and food industries, among others. These will feature speakers such as the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Secretary General of Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council, and the Director General of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals.
Keynote speeches and interviews with senior officials, including Minister of EnergyHRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who will address Saudi-Chinese cooperation and global transformations in the energy sector, are slated for the gathering.
An exclusive interview with the Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim, will be conducted by the South China Morning Post, with discussions expected to cover Saudi Arabia’s transformation endeavour. President of the Federation of Arab Businessmen, Hamdi Tabbaa, will also be featured in an interview.
The Arab-China Business Conference will host over 3,000 participants including decision-makers, government officials, investors, business owners, and experts in Arab-Chinese relations. The conference promises a strategic platform for dialogue and partnership between the Arab world and China, geared towards enhancing cooperation and fostering economic ventures.