Desert dreams, global ambitions: Chinese innovation in UAE and Saudi Arabia

As the sound of camel bells echoes through the vast desert sands, shared sentiments traverse the long and winding Silk Road, bridging the bonds between nations. Among the first to embrace the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and China have cultivated a decade of flourishing cooperation. A group of scholars and graduate students were selected and embarked on a research journey to the UAE and Saudi Arabia under the university's "Zhi Xing Initiative" last month. Through visits to Chinese enterprises abroad, exchanges with local youths and tours of iconic sites, they enhanced cross-cultural understanding and international collaboration skills. Witnessing the remarkable achievements from the BRI cooperation between China, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, they deeply grasped the significance of a shared human destiny.

With every step on this mysterious and brilliant land, the students were captivated by the unique stories flowing through each corner, sparking inspiration and extraordinary insights. Motivated by the discussions around the ongoing Two Sessions happening in Beijing and the 2024 government work report, they reflected on these unforgettable experiences and learnings in West Asia.

In 2023, China's economic progress gained unmistakable momentum. Last year, the exports of the "new three," namely electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products, grew by nearly 30 percent. Chinese Premier Li Qiang mentioned in the 2024 government work report that the production and sales volume of new energy vehicles accounted for more than 60 percent of the global market share.

Beyond actively engaging in the BRI with Chinese enterprises, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are embracing innovation with unprecedented intensity to break resource dependency chains and forge diversified, sustainable development paths. As reliable partners in the oil and gas sector, their collaboration with China has become a pillar of pragmatic China-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) cooperation. However, Xue Boyuan, a doctoral student from Tsinghua University's School of Environment, noted, "During our Middle East research trip, we found that to address environmental protection and climate change, both countries have made significant strides in new energy development, especially solar, tidal and nuclear power."

Walking through Dubai's Sustainable City, the Tsinghua group appreciated the emirate's foresight and wisdom in sustainable development and energy transition. The 500 solar-powered villas, 11 bio-domes and urban agriculture seamlessly integrate eco-friendly concepts into urban life, challenging traditional energy reliance.

The burgeoning new energy industry has catalyzed a profound transformation in the downstream sectors, propelling the rapid growth of cutting-edge industries such as electric vehicles, eco-friendly sustainable communities and self-reliant energy systems. This shift has not only reshaped the industrial landscape but also paved the way for a greener, more resilient future where innovation and sustainability are inextricably intertwined. The surging demand for "new three" has expanded China-Arab investment in new energy, strengthening exchanges in planning, R&D, demo pilots and talent cultivation. Xue confidently predicts, "Pragmatic China-Arab cooperation will continue expanding into high-tech new energy and technology fields."

New quality productive forces, resulting from revolutionary breakthroughs, innovative factor allocation and deep industrial transformation, are the contemporary embodiment of advanced productivity. Characterized by qualitative changes in labor, means of production and optimized combinations, their core indicator is total factor productivity improvement. The government work report introduces tasks to vigorously advance modern industrial systems and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces.

Infrastructure, the cornerstone of regional progress, plays a pivotal role in economic growth and livelihood improvement. Under the BRI framework, Chinese enterprises have actively engaged in West Asia's infrastructure construction, covering roads, bridges, railways, electricity and energy. By introducing Chinese technology and management expertise, these projects have elevated local infrastructure and promoted regional economic interconnectivity and long-term development.

The Tsinghua group visited several Chinese enterprises, including Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG), China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC), Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) and China State Railway Group (China Railway), discussing their regional development history, localization efforts, cross-cultural communication and political impact navigation. These industry leaders have made substantial contributions, from XCMG's construction machinery exports to MCC's steel and housing projects, PowerChina's regional contracting leadership, China Railway's Mecca Light Rail and the upcoming 2034 FIFA World Cup stadium construction.

Over the past decade, China's impact on the Middle East's infrastructure, energy and other sectors has been nothing short of remarkable. Chinese enterprises have played a pivotal role in shaping the region's development, particularly at the intersection of infrastructure and cutting-edge technology. Their innovative solutions and unparalleled expertise have transformed the landscape, setting new standards for efficiency, sustainability and progress. As a result, China's contributions have become an integral part of the Middle East's growth story, leaving an indelible mark on the region's path to modernization and prosperity. Cui Xiyuan, Tsinghua University's School of Humanities graduate student affairs group leader, remarked, "In going global, Chinese enterprises continuously innovate, accumulate experience, inject technological vitality into overseas markets and promote their own transformation and upgrading, effectively accelerating the formation of new quality productive forces."

Tsinghua University's School of Public Management master's student Ran Shirui added, "New quality productive forces create new values with new technologies, adapt to new industries and reshape new momentum. They manifest advanced productivity and drive global innovative, sustainable development."

During an exchange with Dubai Business Associates, the Tsinghua group was inspired and impressed by Dubai's legendary transformation from a small fishing village to a global metropolis and business hub. Beyond oil wealth, Dubai's visionary leadership and innovative spirit heavily invested in infrastructure, real estate, transportation and finance to become one of the world's most dynamic cities.

Innovation is the key to driving deeper Middle East development. The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) incubator empowers students' creative ideas with comprehensive support. The Masdar City and BP-backed climate technology accelerator, CATALYST, provides financing and resources for climate tech startups. Through these incubators, the team witnessed universities' efforts to nurture creativity.

Masdar City itself is a pioneering low-carbon development project. Chris Wan, who headed the project's design management, introduced its sustainable design concepts and construction, emphasizing the balance between environmental sustainability and cost. The Tsinghua group then engaged in insightful discussions, glimpsing the technological allure of future human life.

Ran Shirui reflected, "Accelerating 'new quality productive forces' formation requires not only technological innovation but also ideological and cultural renewal. We should combine this with 'going global,' drawing on worldwide best practices. As youth, we must actively enhance our global perspective, strengthen cross-cultural communication and international cooperation capabilities, and make our voices heard on the world stage."

The 2024 government work report highlights the active cultivation of emerging and future-oriented industries through industrial innovation projects, ecosystem improvement, application scenario expansion and strategic emerging industry cluster development. It aims to consolidate advantages in smart IoT (internet of things), new energy vehicles, accelerate cutting-edge industries like hydrogen energy, new materials and innovative medicines, and actively build growth engines such as biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace and low-altitude economy. Future industry development plans will be formulated, opening up new tracks in quantum technology and life sciences and creating future industry pilot zones.

The Tsinghua group was amazed to witness the flourishing of Chinese "future-oriented industries" in the Middle East. Huawei is promoting Saudi Arabia's digital transformation with ubiquitous connectivity, green energy, cloud computing and AI services, supporting smart upgrades across sectors and participating in the nation's Vision 2030 goals as a key 5G and digital partner. Meanwhile, the China Communications Services Saudi office, deeply rooted in the region for nearly two decades, operates in traditional communication, new energy and smart cities through projects like the Saudi National Broadband Project and road monitoring construction.

Life sciences, providing strong support for medical development, agricultural production and environmental protection, are increasingly vital in the 21st-century technology wave. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 considers life sciences and healthcare technologies as pillar industries. BGI (Beijing Genomics Institute) seized the opportunity to introduce Chinese pioneering technological solutions in genetic testing and disease screening to the Middle East, promoting healthcare service transformation and upgrading, improving public health, and strengthening China-Saudi biotech and healthcare cooperation.

Zheng Yuchuan, Schwarzman College Graduate Student Union president at Tsinghua University, noted, "This reflects the expansion of China-Saudi cooperation from single enterprise trade to full industry, deep coupling, especially in smart IoT and life sciences future industries. From government-level agreements, capital market funding, talent training and technology cooperation to enterprise joint operations and full industry chain solutions, the comprehensive collaboration is bearing fruit. With the positive China-Saudi relationship and frequent policy support, their future industry cooperation will achieve even greater success."

The 2024 government work report outlines policies supporting the digital economy's high-quality development, promoting digital industrialization and industrial digitalization, and deepening the integration of digital technology and the real economy. It emphasizes research and application of big data, artificial intelligence and the "Artificial Intelligence Plus" (AI Plus) initiative to build an internationally competitive digital industry cluster.

This newly released initiative showcases China's ambition in the global digital wave. Under the BRI grand blueprint, Chinese enterprises set sail for the UAE and Saudi Arabia, demonstrating China's strong capabilities and achievements under AI Plus strategic leadership while carrying the dream of sharing peace and development with the world.

Li Yunze, a doctoral student from Tsinghua University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, commented, "This initiative impresses me with China's leading position in digital industrialization and its solid foothold in the global technology competition. Exchanges with the Bank of China Riyadh Branch, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Riyadh Branch and the Saudi-China Business Council made me realize that while promoting the digital economy's high-quality development, China focuses on the deep integration of finance and the real economy, making AI Plus not only a technological upgrade but also an economic structure innovation. Interactions with UAE government venture capital firms and New York University Abu Dhabi made me feel China's strong advantages in technology innovation and its positive image in international culture and education. This plan will undoubtedly inject new momentum into global digital economy cooperation and innovation, allowing China to play an even more significant role in technology and cultural exchanges."

However, this journey forward is not without challenges. Chinese enterprises face technological and managerial changes and tests of deep cultural understanding and international political landscape navigation. These difficulties remind those moving forward to adopt more open attitudes and smarter strategies to embrace a diverse and complex world. It is a journey filled with starlight and challenges, telling the story of Chinese enterprises striding forward on the global stage, showing the power of persistence and courage in the face of the unknown.

During their trip, they also visited New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). The Tsinghua group engaged in a vibrant exchange of ideas with local students, sharing invaluable insights into their diverse learning experiences, research focuses and volunteer initiatives. Drawing upon their unique academic backgrounds, the team members contributed thought-provoking perspectives on critical global issues such as climate change, energy transition and economic development. The NYUAD students also extended an invitation to the upcoming fourth China-Gulf Forum, recognizing the immense value of continuing these insightful dialogues. Inspired by the prospect of further collaboration, the Tsinghua group seized the opportunity to deepen the connection between the two institutions by proactively following up on the invitation. As a result, in partnership with the Schwarzman College Graduate Student Union at Tsinghua University, the delegation will be co-organizing a Beijing sub-forum as part of the China-Gulf Forum, creating a platform for a wider audience of youths and students to engage with the exciting developments and topics that emerged from this journey to West Asia.

Throughout history, youth have stood at the crossroads of the past and future. In today's world of unprecedented change, they critically seek progress and bravely navigate the currents of time. On this ancient and renewed Silk Road, Chinese and Arab youths are not mere spectators but the architects of dreams and the pioneers of innovation. At the intersection of two great civilizations, they fearlessly explore uncharted territories and pursue the pinnacles of technology and human understanding with unwavering passion. Innovation, in its truest sense, transcends the boundaries of technological advancement; it is a perpetual inquiry into the very nature of human existence, the world around us and the mysteries of the universe. In this land of sand and dreams, the aspirations of youth, though seemingly insignificant like grains of sand, radiate with an unquenchable brilliance. They remind us that courage is the ultimate passport, whether in the vast expanses of the desert, the depths of the ocean, or the uncharted paths that connect East and West. Through their actions, these young visionaries underscore an undeniable truth: in an era defined by rapid change, it is only through relentless innovation and an unyielding commitment to exploration that we can forge a path to a brighter tomorrow.