On June 2, Consul General Li Xuhang attended a webinar on “creating business opportunities for Chinese companies in the Middle Eastern and Northern Africa (MENA) region, under the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI)”. The webinar, attended by over 300 Chinese and foreign entrepreneurs, was co-hosted by DP World, the UAE Region and the Chinese Business Council in the UAE.
In his speech in the webinar, Li Xuhang said that China and the UAE have a long history of friendship. In recent years, in the direction set by presidential diplomacy and leadership, China and the UAE have become good friends, good partners and good brothers that complement each other in development and cooperation. Bilateral trade between China and the UAE has surged over the years, embodied by the steady progress of BRI projects including the 950MW CSP+PV solar power project in Dubai and the Hassyan clean coal power station, which will bring more extensive cooperation between the two countries.
Li Xuhang pointed out that this webinar is held at the right time in the following terms. First, Chinese companies have a strong interest in doing business in Dubai since it has unique advantages in terms of location and policy as an important center of trade, shipping, finance and logistics. Second, Chinese companies in the UAE have expressed to the Chinese Business Council in the UAE their desires to seek more business opportunities and expand markets. Third, DP World and JAFZA (Jebel Ali Free Zone), committed to expanding trade and investment with China, have launched several important cooperative projects for their Chinese clients.
Li Xuhang emphasized that the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai will play a positive role asa bridge and a bond between the two sides in promoting exchanges and cooperation. It will do more practical work and provide better service for the stable and long-lasting development of the economic and trade cooperation between the two sides.
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and managing director of DP World, the UAE Region and JAFZA, in his speech, reviewed the trade and investment between China and the UAE in recent years, and introduced the global operations and advantages of DP World and JAFZA and its cooperation with China in investment. He said that DP World and JAFZA regard China as one of the most important partners, and encourage Chinese companies to invest in Dubai, further strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
He Zhenwei, Secretary General of China Overseas Development Association, stated in his keynote speech thatChina’s economy has been leading the way in the recovery from Covid-19 and become an important engine for global economic recovery. The Belt and Road Initiative has become the most popular public product for the world provided by China. He suggested that Chinese companies should seek and seize business opportunities abroad together. Meanwhile, they should also keep clear about potential dangers to forestall risks.
Entrepreneurs attending the webinar conducted in-depth exchanges with DP World on issues of common concern such as taxation, land, and employment.