On March 7, China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development(CARC), in collaboration with CGTN Arabic’s Shanghai and Middle East bureaus, jointly hosted the China in Springtime: Sharing Opportunities with the World roundtable dialogue. The event featured invited in-person guests, including Saleh Al Khabti, Saudi renewable energy giant、Chairman of ACWA Power China; Zou Jianglei, CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank China; Wang Guangda, Secretary-General of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development(CARC); and Dr.Gafar Karar, former Sudanese Ambassador to China. Several experts and scholars from Saudi Arabia and the UAE also participated in the discussion online.
The panelists agreed that the concept of “seamlessly integrating the innovation and industrial chains,” as proposed by President Xi Jinping during the deliberations with the Jiangsu delegation, provides new momentum for China's high-quality development in the future.
The participating experts engaged in discussions on the integration of innovation and industrial chains, emphasizing that their mutual reinforcement will create a positive cycle—cultivating new driving forces for the development of new quality productive forces and expanding platforms for technological innovation.
Wang Guangda highlighted recent examples of China-Arab collaboration in technological innovation, citing the partnership between DeepSeek and Saudi Aramco and Huawei's establishment of a cloud data center in Riyadh. He noted that these initiatives reflect the broad consensus and strong foundation for China-Arab cooperation in science and technology. However, he also pointed out that China and Arab countries have faced external disruptions in high-tech collaborations, particularly in artificial intelligence. Both sides remain firmly committed to deepening cooperation in the field of technological innovation.
Wang further elaborated that China and Arab countries share strong complementarities and a strong willingness to cooperate in the field of scientific and technological innovation. China has made rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, possessing advanced technology, extensive application experience, and an open attitude toward international cooperation. Meanwhile, Arab countries are actively exploring modernization pathways tailored to their national conditions and are accelerating economic transformation. Arab sovereign wealth funds and state-owned oil companies have substantial capital reserves and a strong interest in investing in artificial intelligence. The synergy between financial resources and technological expertise presents an opportunity for breakthroughs in frontier fields and key technologies. Arab countries also seek to leverage Chinese technology and experience to cultivate emerging industries, achieve economic diversification, and enhance national competitiveness.
Regarding the impact of U.S. tariff policies on China-Arab economic and trade relations, Wang stated that the economic uncertainty triggered by U.S. tariffs presents an opportunity for China-Arab cooperation. Arab investors are increasingly looking “pivot to the East”, shifting their focus to the more stable and promising Chinese market. As a result, investments in China are expanding across multiple sectors, including energy, finance, and technology, which will further diversify and deepen bilateral investment ties.
The program broadcasted on March 16 on CGTN Arabic’s Finance of China segment and its Arabic-language new media platforms. Several Arab media outlets will air the roundtable discussion.