His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Economic Affairs Sector, received Mr. Lu Hao, Minister of the Research and Development Centre of the State Council of China, along with his accompanying delegation, at the General Secretariat headquarters on 21 January. This visit reflects the ongoing efforts to strengthen Sino-Arab cooperation, which stands as one of the most notable and successful models of transregional collaboration.
The discussions encompassed key issues related to the development of the Global South, the outcomes of the first Sino-Arab Summit held in 2022, and avenues for expanding economic and investment partnerships. Particular attention was given to advancing cooperation in manufacturing development, localisation, economic diversification, and leveraging China's pioneering expertise in these areas. The meeting also addressed opportunities, challenges, and priorities for jointly advancing a high-quality Belt and Road Initiative.
Representatives from the Political Affairs Sector and the Social Affairs Sector contributed to the discussions, which also included a review of ongoing initiatives under the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum. Among these was the upcoming 11th session of the Arab-Chinese Businessmen Conference and the 9th session of the Investment Symposium, scheduled for the second half of April 2025 in China. These events, pivotal mechanisms of collaboration between the two sides, aim to engage government entities, business sector representatives, and other partners to bolster economic, investment, and trade cooperation in the next phase.
Additionally, the meeting highlighted the third session of the Chinese International Supply Chain Development Expo, set to take place in Beijing in November 2025, in which the General Secretariat participated in its inaugural and subsequent sessions in 2023 and 2024.
A significant topic of discussion was China's proposal to establish a research centre for the Global South, focusing on its operational mechanisms and strategic goals.
It is noteworthy that since the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum was established in 2004, trade exchange between Arab countries and China has witnessed exponential growth—from approximately $37 billion in 2004 to $222 billion USD in 2012. By 2024, the volume of trade had surged to $400 billion, solidifying China's position as the largest trading partner of Arab countries.
