Arab Federation for Digital Economy Successfully Participates in the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo

From September 25 to 29, 2025, the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE 2025) was grandly held in Hangzhou, China. This year’s expo attracted over 1,800 exhibitors from 154 countries and regions, including more than 70 Fortune 500 companies. Over 42,000 digital trade professionals attended, with 11,000 international participants. The United Arab Emirates and Indonesia served as Guest of Honor Countries, while Shaanxi Province was the Guest of Honor Province.

Led by H.E. Prof. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri, Secretary-General of the Office of the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Chairman of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy (AFDE), the “UAE Digital Discovery Tour to Zhejiang” delegation achieved remarkable outcomes at the expo—exceeding expectations. The delegation included representatives from 10 key UAE government entities and enterprises, such as the UAE Ministry of Interior, AFDE, Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Free Zone, DP World, and Dubai Leadership Group.

Throughout the event, the delegation deeply engaged in all expo activities, serving as featured speakers at 8 side forums. They successfully hosted the “UAE Business Matchmaking Session,” conducting business discussions and procurement negotiations with over 60 companies, resulting in tentative procurement agreements worth USD 5 million. In total, the delegation signed 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

MoU signing with Inspur Group

Notably, AFDE signed a tripartite MoU with the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce and the Binjiang District People’s Government, agreeing to:

• Establish the AFDE Yangtze River Delta Regional Cooperation Center in Hangzhou;
  
• Jointly launch a USD 1 billion Digital Industry Cooperation Fund.
  

Additionally, AFDE signed an MoU with Inspur Group Co., Ltd., under which both parties will explore collaboration through business referrals, joint ventures, and foreign direct investment in areas such as data centers and smart cities, creating sustainable value for local communities.

Visit Alibaba Group

During the expo, the delegation also made a special visit to Alibaba Group’s headquarters, holding in-depth discussions with senior executives on frontier areas including e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital payments. Both sides agreed that vast opportunities exist for cooperation in the global digital economy and expressed intent to jointly explore concrete projects in smart city development and digital trade platform construction.

In his keynote remarks, Dr. Ali Mohammed Al-Khouri emphasized that AFDE’s participation in this international event aims to actively advance the implementation of the “Arab Digital Economy Vision”—a landmark initiative adopted at the 2022 Arab Summit under the personal leadership of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The Vision seeks to establish a unified, globally competitive roadmap for the Arab digital economy by enhancing digital infrastructure, harmonizing legislation, and accelerating innovation.

Dr. Al-Khouri further highlighted the strategic importance of forging close partnerships with China, noting that Chinese enterprises’ outstanding achievements and leadership in digital innovation make them indispensable global collaborators. He stated that the China-Arab digital trade partnership is becoming the cornerstone of new digital corridors—ensuring secure flows of goods, services, and data while boosting global confidence in the Arab digital ecosystem.

Currently, AFDE has already established its China headquarters in Hong Kong and plans to set up additional regional centers across mainland China. These initiatives will facilitate the creation of joint innovation platforms and drive globally impactful digital projects, positioning China-Arab cooperation as a model for internationaldigital integration.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Al-Khouri described AFDE’s participation in the Hangzhou expo as a sincere invitation to international partners—especially China—to jointly build a more inclusive and equitable global digital economy that better serves people and addresses sustainable development challenges. He stressed that the world urgently needs practical digital platforms, modern legal frameworks, and long-term, stable partnerships—and that AFDE stands at the forefront of these efforts, championing a unified Arab vision anchored in the UAE’s pioneering role and innovative models to reinforce the Arab region’s influence in shaping the future of the global digital economy.