Bilateral Trade Between China and Arab Countries - New Horizons

The 11th China-Arab Business Conference and 9th Investment Seminar of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum was held in Haikou, Hainan, from April 27-30, 2025, attracting more than 1,000 political and business leaders from China and Arab countries.

Deep Cooperation Across Five Strategic Sectors:

China has long been the largest trading partner for Arab countries, with bilateral trade exceeding $400 billion USD in 2024. In May 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that China and Arab countries build cooperation in five areas: innovation, investment, finance, energy, economy and trade, and people-to-people cooperation.

Hainan's Unique Position as a Free Trade Port:

2025 is the year of full operation of Hainan Free Trade Port. In 2024, the volume of goods trade between Hainan and Arab League countries exceeded $3.3 billion USD, with annual growth exceeding 30%. Connectivity is also expanding, with direct flights now connecting Haikou and Dubai, and Yangpu Port and Abu Dhabi Port have established sister port relationships.

Tangible Results and Strong Business Momentum:

The total value of agreements reached $411 million USD. In addition to official signings, the conference facilitated dynamic business matching sessions.

China-Arab cooperation carries strategic value beyond trade and investment:

A senior Arab representative from the Union of Arab Chambers affirmed the broader geopolitical context of China-Arab relations, noting that arbitrary tariffs imposed by the United States disrupted global trade, and affirmed that Arab countries express solidarity with China.