On the morning of November 23, 2023 (UAE local time), Qian Xiaojun, Founder and CEO/President of IBI (Guolian Co., Ltd.), together with Zhang Wei, Vice President of IBI TDD and Head of the Automotive Equipment Industry Chain, signed a Trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shandong Port Overseas Development Group and Abu Dhabi Ports Group at the KEZAD Free Trade Zone, Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by senior officials including Song Junji, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, and Chen Fei, Director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce.

Under the MoU, the three parties reached cooperation intentions on cross-border business related to the import, export and re-export of China’s automotive equipment industry chain in the UAE, including overseas warehousing, logistics distribution, product display, and online platform cooperation. The signing aims to actively integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative, leverage the complementary strengths of the three parties, and jointly create a new benchmark for cross-border digital supply chain–driven industrial globalization.

Abu Dhabi Ports Group is the UAE’s leading operator of ports, economic cities, free zones, and logistics businesses. It manages multiple ports, industrial zones, logistics centers, and shipping companies across the Abu Dhabi region, serving as one of the key pillars of the emirate’s economic development. Through diversified operations and continuous innovation and partnerships, the group provides efficient and reliable products and services to regional and international customers.

Shandong Port Overseas Development Group, a subsidiary of Shandong Port Group, plays a key role in advancing the internationalization strategy of Shandong’s ports. In line with President Xi Jinping’s directive to “accelerate the development of world-class marine ports,” Shandong Port Group was officially established in August 2019. In 2022, it achieved cargo throughput exceeding 1.6 billion tons and container throughput exceeding 37 million TEUs, ranking first and third globally, respectively. The group operates 327 container shipping routes, connects with more than 180 countries and regions, and has established 32 inland ports and 82 sea-rail intermodal container routes. It has successfully operated overseas projects such as the Boffa Alumina Port in Guinea and Phase II of Khalifa Port Container Terminal in Abu Dhabi, and has established sister-port relationships with 40 ports worldwide.

Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO of Economic Cities and Free Zones at Abu Dhabi Ports Group, noted that Abu Dhabi Port is a key hub port in the Middle East with a strategic location, comprehensive cargo handling capabilities, and integrated passenger and freight functions. Moving forward, Abu Dhabi Ports Group will provide warehouse land, product exhibition facilities, and port operation services according to the business needs of the three parties, supporting the continued development of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Middle East.

Li Fengli, Deputy Party Secretary, Director, and General Manager of Shandong Port Group, stated that cooperation between Shandong Port Group and Abu Dhabi Ports has a solid foundation. In April 2019, Qingdao Port of Shandong Port Group and COSCO Shipping jointly invested in and operated Phase II of Khalifa Port Container Terminal, marking the beginning of deeper cooperation. On December 14, 2021, the two ports established a sister-port relationship, and on November 11, 2022, the maiden voyage of the Safin Power vessel officially opened the Far East–Middle East shipping route, further strengthening bilateral port cooperation.

Li also highlighted the strong synergy between Shandong Port Overseas Development Group and IBI in advancing the cross-border globalization of China’s automotive equipment industrial clusters. He expressed hope that the three parties would take this signing as an opportunity to strengthen communication, deepen comprehensive cooperation, contribute to China–UAE economic and trade exchanges as well as people-to-people ties, and jointly safeguard the stability and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains.

Qian Xiaojun, Founder and CEO/President of IBI, stated that the signing of the MoU with Shandong Port Group and Abu Dhabi Ports Group holds significant strategic importance. Each party possesses unique and irreplaceable advantages, enabling them to jointly create a model case for the national strategy of “industrial clusters + cross-border e-commerce.” Since the State Council proposed the “industrial cluster + cross-border expansion” strategy on April 25 this year, IBI and Shandong Port Group have been working closely to build an integrated service platform for cross-border exports from industrial clusters, jointly promoting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Following this agreement, IBI will continue to leverage its strengths in platforms, technology, and data, along with its platform operation capabilities, and work together with its two port partners to advance overseas procurement, online transactions, and offline promotion. The three parties will jointly build a digital warehousing and logistics system, create a permanent digital exhibition hall for automotive equipment, and open up new B2B cross-border e-commerce models covering tires, auto parts, and complete vehicles.

In addition, the three parties conducted extensive discussions around the Belt and Road Initiative and jointly expressed their commitment to reducing costs and improving efficiency for Chinese enterprises going global, enhancing the international market share of Chinese manufacturing, and working in close coordination to fully leverage their respective strengths and roles.