The eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), held in Shanghai from 5-10 November 2025, underscored the event’s growing importance for Middle East-China economic ties.

With the UAE as guest of honour and strong participation from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran, the expo highlighted the region’s push to deepen trade and investment with China under the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s continued commitment to high-level opening-up.

The 2025 expo delivered record results across all key indicators. Intended deals reached $83.49bn, up 4.4% year-on-year. A total of 4,108 exhibitors from 138 countries and regions occupied 367,000 square metres of display space, while more than 460,000 professional visitors attended, a 7% increase over 2024.

According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, the CIIE featured 461 product and technology debuts, including 201 global premieres, strengthening its role as a launchpad for global innovation.

Middle Eastern delegations used the platform to seal new partnerships and expand market access. The UAE stood out for its energy and food trade deals. Adnoc signed a renewed crude supply agreement with China National Offshore Oil Corporation and a memorandum of understanding with Zhenhua Oil, while its chemicals arm Taziz awarded a $1.99bn engineering, procurement and construction contract to China National Chemical Engineering Group for a PVC plant. Emirati agricultural exporters promoted dates, camel milk and other specialties, gaining traction among Chinese consumers.

Saudi Arabia, China’s largest Gulf trading partner, sent a high-level delegation. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser described China as a “strategic market”. During the expo, Sinopec concluded $40.9bn in long-term supply deals with 17 companies, many linked to Saudi oil and chemicals. China National Petroleum Corporation signed $17.5bn in procurement agreements with 41 global firms, including Aramco. The Saudi pavilion showcased Vision 2030 sectors such as mining, manufacturing and agri-products.

Egypt promoted citrus, rice and cotton textiles, positioning CIIE as a launchpad into the Chinese market, where China has been its top trading partner for over a decade. Iranian firms used cultural products – from carpets and enamelware to saffron-based skincare – to engage Chinese buyers; one brand reported saffron facial cream sales rising from a few thousand to over one million bottles since 2019.

Alongside the expo, the eighth Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) hosted 25 sub-forums and over 8,000 attendees, including Middle Eastern stakeholders discussing digital trade, energy transition and green development. Together, CIIE and HQF are emerging as cornerstone platforms for long-term trade, investment, technology transfer and cultural exchange between China and the Middle East.

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