UAE-China conference boosts trade and investment ties

The UAE-China Business Promotion Conference, held under the theme "From Vision to Value", gathered ministers, senior officials, and business leaders from both countries to explore new avenues for collaboration, investment and innovation. The conference was held on the sidelines of the official visit of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, who is leading a high-level delegation to China.

During the conference, the two countries signed 24 Memorandums of Understanding, further bolstering bilateral economic, trade and investment relations.

In his opening remarks, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's minister for foreign trade, underscored the significance of the conference in strengthening bilateral cooperation and unlocking new opportunities for bilateral growth.

Al Zeyoudi said, "The UAE and China share a longstanding economic partnership, built on decades of cooperation and a shared vision for prosperity."

Non-oil trade between China and the UAE surpassed the $100 billion mark for the first time in 2025, achieving a record annual growth of 24.5 percent to reach $111.5 billion, according to the minister.

"We will continue to work closely across key sectors to promote sustainable economic outcomes that serve the interests of both nations," the minister added.

China remains the UAE's largest trading partner, accounting for about 11 percent of its total non-oil trade and ranking first in imports. The UAE is also China's leading trading partner in the Middle East and Africa, contributing more than 20 percent of China's non-oil trade with the region over the past decade.

The conference was co-hosted by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade and China's Ministry of Commerce, and co-organized by the UAE embassy in Beijing and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.