Investopia – Beijing convenes to enhance economic and investment partnerships between the UAE and China in the new economy, tourism, entrepreneurship, clean energy, and industry

H.E. Bin Touq: Investopia – Beijing is the latest milestone in our joint efforts to develop a promising partnership that serves sustainable development and economic innovation

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of Investopia, affirmed that the UAE and the People’s Republic of China, under the guidance of both leaderships, have built strong, strategic relations that have steadily deepened over the past decades to cover key sectors such as the new economy, investment, energy, technology, and innovation. He emphasized that China remains one of the UAE’s most important economic partners at both regional and global levels.

His Excellency made these remarks at the opening of Investopia – Beijing, held in the Chinese capital as part of Investopia Global Talks series. The event was attended by H.E. Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, alongside senior government officials, experts, entrepreneurs, and investors from both sides.

Investopia – Beijing, the 19th edition of Investopia Global Talks and the first to be held in China, was organized in partnership with the Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF) and in collaboration with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). The event contributed to strengthening economic and investment partnerships and promoting the development of joint projects in advanced technology, clean energy, smart logistics, and tourism, supporting sustainable economic growth in both countries.

His Excellency said: “Investopia – Beijing marks a new milestone reflecting the shared commitment of both nations to develop a promising partnership that serves sustainable development, economic innovation, and strengthens connections between the UAE and Chinese business communities. The panel discussions served as an ideal platform to explore new avenues of cooperation and build long-term partnerships that foster growth and advance the interests of both sides.”

His Excellency highlighted that by the end of July 2025, nearly 16,500 Chinese trade licenses were active in the UAE market, marking an increase of over 18 per cent compared to the same period in 2024 and covering a wide range of economic and investment activities. The number of Chinese trade agencies operating in the country reached 533 by the end of last July.

His Excellency added that Investopia – Beijing seeks to strengthen the role of both countries in advancing global economic growth and sustainability by opening new avenues for quality investments in the new economy sectors and supporting joint projects in advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and the green economy.

Panel sessions explore UAE–China cooperation opportunities

The event featured six dialogue sessions covering strategic topics aimed at strengthening UAE–China collaboration. The first session, titled ‘Cultural Bridges: Reinventing Tourism through Heritage, Innovation, and Hospitality,’ focused on advancing bilateral tourism by promoting cultural exchange, adopting next-generation destination marketing and innovative travel experiences, and highlighting the role of public-private partnerships in developing the hospitality sector and attracting tourism investment. The session was attended by H.E. Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, Secretary-General-elect of UN Tourism for the 2026–2029 term, and Pansi Ho, Vice Chairwoman and Secretary-General of the Global Tourism Economy Forum.

The ‘Future Energy: UAE-China Cooperation in Clean Energy’ session explored ways to expand joint investments in solar energy, wind power, and hydrogen, as well as the importance of technology transfer and green financing to support the transition towards carbon neutrality. The session titled ‘Capital Flows and Cross-Border Investment: The UAE-China Corridor’ reviewed opportunities to deepen investment ties between the two countries, the priorities of sovereign wealth funds, and the roles of innovation centres and venture capital in enhancing investment flows.

Meanwhile, the ‘New Industrial Age: Robotics, Electric Vehicles, and Advanced Technologies’ discussed cooperation opportunities in future industries through the establishment of joint industrial zones, the exchange of expertise in smart factories and the IoT, and the development of joint strategies for innovation and intellectual property protection. Meanwhile, the session titled ‘Science, Innovation, and Investment: A Bridge Between Ideas and Capital’ examined the role of innovation centres, governments, and investors in leveraging scientific discoveries for economic development.

In the session titled ‘Smart Connectivity: Accelerating Trade Through Infrastructure and Logistics,’ attendees discussed the role of smart infrastructure and modern technologies such as AI and Blockchain in developing ports, airports, and railway networks, and the contribution of the Belt and Road corridors to enhancing trade fluidity between the two sides.

The event also featured a roundtable between representatives of the public and private sectors in the UAE and China, aimed at strengthening existing partnerships and launching new projects that serve the sustainable development of both parties, with an emphasis on supporting entrepreneurs and startups to access broader markets and benefit from the competitive advantages offered by the business environments in both countries.

Four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were also signed at Investopia – Beijing, between representatives from the public and private sectors in the UAE and China, in the presence of H.E. the Minister of Economy and Tourism, and Chairman of Investopia. Investopia signed two MoUs - one with SIEF to further strengthen trade and investment ties, and another with KLICKL, a leading provider of digital banking and payment services.

Additionally, the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an MoU with SIEF to develop areas of research and business communication. Also, P4ML company signed a MoU with the P4 Precision Medicine Innovation Centre Beijing to strengthen economic and investment ties and opening broader prospects for bilateral cooperation in the new economy sectors.
The event is happening at a time when economic relations between the UAE and China are at an all-time high, with increasing mutual investments in energy, infrastructure, technology, financial services, and tourism, reflecting the strength and vitality of the strategic partnership and the commitment of both countries to advancing them.

The UAE delegation that participated in the event included senior government officials at the federal and local levels, as well as business leaders and private sector representatives from the UAE, including H.E. Mohamed Al Hawi, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment; H.E. Dr. Nasser Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of the Tawazun Economic Council; H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park; H.E. Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of Edge Group; Mohamed Abdelqader Al Ramahi, CEO of Green Hydrogen at Masdar; Marwan Al Marri, Regional Director for Asia at Dubai Chambers; Rabea Ataya, Founder and CEO of Bayt.com; Adeeb Ahmed, Managing Director of Lulu Financial Holdings; Abdullah Habib Al Mulla, Owner and CEO of Home Bakery; and Stuart Oda, Founder of Alesca Technologies.