Shanghai forum strengthens China-UAE trade ties

With bilateral trade between China and the United Arab Emirates exceeding $100 billion in 2024, a two-day forum concluded in Shanghai on Saturday aimed at further deepening UAE-China investment cooperation and supporting Chinese enterprises' expansion into the Middle East and beyond.

Formally known as the AIM Congress China Chapter 2025, the event marked the first international chapter of the AIM Congress, an established global platform for promoting investment and economic cooperation.

"The UAE has become China's most important non-oil trading partner in the Middle East. It also serves as a pivotal hub linking China to regional and global markets in Asia, Africa and Europe, thanks to its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, flexible economic policies, and investment-friendly environment that support sustainable investment and free trade," said Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to China.

Public information shows that China and the UAE have consistently deepened their economic and trade relations in recent years, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion last year. The UAE is now China's second-largest trading partner and largest export market in West Asia and North Africa.

As many as 772 Chinese companies registered in Dubai during the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 3.8 percent. These companies cover sectors including artificial intelligence, fintech and logistics, underscoring the vitality of bilateral investment, according to the event organizer.