EyE on U | Ebrahim Hashem: Economic center of gravity moving from West to East

The UAE Minister of Economy has said that the Belt and Road offers the world a new alternative to isolation and confrontation, and is a gift from China to the world. Obviously, the UAE is playing an increasingly important role in the Initiative and has become a closer partner with China.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (ETO) in Dubai which commenced operations in October last year, is the first ETO opened by the HKSAR Government in the Middle East and will help strengthen HK's economic and trade relations with its trading partners in the region.

In this edition of EyE on U, we invite Ebrahim Hashem, a strategist, consultant and scholar from the United Arab Emirates, to share with us his views on the global economy, world order and Sino-Arab relations. He has been following the rise of China since 2011, when he worked on a strategic project for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in relation to China's 12th Five-Year Plan.

In the face of US pressure, the UAE has also insisted on cooperation with China in various areas such as communications technology. In the face of the complexities ahead, where will Sino-Arab relations go? What opportunities does the One Belt One Road initiative bring to the UAE and other countries along the route? How can HK and the UAE capitalize on each other's strengths to enhance cooperation and communication? Watch the video now to find out.