President of the Lebanese-Chinese Business Association Ali Mahmoud El Abdallah at a China-Arab economic workshop: A new dawn in Arab-Chinese relations
President of the Lebanese-Chinese Business Association
Ali Mahmoud El Abdullah at a China-Arab economic workshop:
A new dawn in Arab-Chinese relations
Beirut, July 29, 2022
The President of the Lebanese Chinese Business Association, Ali Mahmoud El Abdallah, participated in a workshop on “Cross-Border E-Commerce in Arab Countries” organized by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) of China’s Ministry of Commerce.
El Abdallah stated that economic and trade relations between China and Arab countries are steadily advancing toward the future, supported by encouraging government policies that have opened the door for the Arab and Chinese private sectors to take the initiative and move forward in launching joint development projects.
He added:
“We are facing a historic opportunity to strengthen Arab-Chinese trade relations, whether through direct commercial activities or through e-commerce, especially in light of the current geo-strategic changes taking place globally.
In the Arab world, we are witnessing the writing of a new history and the dawn of a new era in relations with China, as a result of the Arab leaderships’ orientation toward achieving deeper and broader cooperation with China which today represents the world’s fastest-growing economy, both industrially and technologically, and in terms of GDP.
China’s output is now rivaling that of the United States and is nearly equal to it. In 2021, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, China’s GDP grew by 8.1%, reaching 17.7 trillion USD surpassing that of the European Union. It is expected that within a few years, China will become the largest economy in the world.”
The Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), which organized the workshop, is a training center affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce of China and is the only educational and training body directly supervised by the Ministry. Established around 40 years ago, the Academy has become a key reference in teaching and training and serves as a vital platform for discussion and capacity building for ministers, officials, and business leaders from China and around the world.
El Abdallah added:
“China is a global power, and we must understand all that this international position entails. It is expected that China will continue to expand its economy in the coming years, especially as wealth and technological and scientific industries continue to shift from the West to China. It is anticipated that China’s GDP will surpass that of the United States by 2025 the clearest indication of China’s historic rise.”
The 14-day workshop aimed to provide a clear picture of the current state of cross-border e-commerce development and the policies adopted toward it in China, while also highlighting the evolution of the global e-commerce industry and the importance of strengthening trade exchange and economic cooperation between China and the Arab countries.
The workshop featured 11 leading Chinese figures specializing in areas such as: political and diplomatic relations between China and Arab countries, e-commerce, cross-border e-commerce policies and models in China, international cooperation in e-commerce, the Belt and Road Initiative, governance and leadership concepts in China, Chinese international initiatives, Chinese culture, and China’s experience in reform, openness, and economic development.
From the Arab world, 25 participants took part, including economic and government experts as well as researchers in commercial fields.
El Abdallah concluded:
“This kind of economic workshop organized by AIBO allows leaders from all over the world to learn about Chinese policies and gain a realistic and genuine understanding of China’s economic developments.”
It is worth noting that AIBO began implementing its international training missions in 1998, launching its first training sessions within the economic cooperation framework for Arab countries. The Academy focuses on several areas, including economic management, trade and investment, development zone construction, natural resource development, coordinated urban and rural development, communications and technology, clean energy, and other sectors.