The Qingdao Overseas Integrated Service Centre enhances China-Arab trade ties, targeting US$400 billion growth through strategic UAE collaboration.
Dubai: The UAE and China have taken a significant step to strengthen China Arab trade by launching the Qingdao Overseas Integrated Service Centre (QOISC). Inaugurated at the China-Arab Business Forum in Qingdao, the Centre is set to accelerate bilateral trade that surpassed US$400 billion in 2024—a tenfold leap since 2004.
Jointly established by SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co. Ltd. and Hisense Group, QOISC will serve as a strategic platform connecting businesses across sectors like high-end manufacturing, new energy, and next-generation tech. By leveraging the UAE as a trade hub, QOISC aims to stimulate export-driven alliances, international exhibitions, and industrial park development.
Mohammed Saqib, Secretary-General of the CHIMENA Business Council, remarked, “The QOISC combines the strength of the public and private sector to push for greater economic cooperation that will bring not only the businesses, but also the peoples of these regions closer.”
The Centre’s launch is aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative and is expected to deepen partnerships between China and the Arab world. The China-Arab Business Forum saw 40 high-value projects signed, totalling nearly US$6 billion, and attracted 465 companies from 43 countries, including 135 Fortune Global 500 firms.
Trade with the UAE alone reached US$101.838 billion in 2024, marking a 7.2% annual increase. Saudi Arabia remains another key partner, with bilateral trade hitting US$107.53 billion. This signals the growing resilience and diversification of China Arab trade, especially amid global uncertainties.
Beyond commerce, QOISC supports socio-economic cooperation and cultural exchange, drawing on over 2,000 years of historic trade routes like the Silk Road. China’s engagement with Arab nations reflects a broader shift towards multipolar partnerships, less reliant on traditional Western allies.
By bringing businesses and industries closer, the Qingdao Overseas Integrated Service Centre symbolises a modern-day revival of ancient ties and promises a dynamic future for China Arab trade.