Sharjah Media City explores ties with China Media Group
During the visit, Rashid Abdullah Al Obad, Director-General of Sharjah Media City (Shams), met Mu Li, Director-General of China Media Group in the Middle East.
The meeting, attended by senior representatives from both sides, focused on ways to deepen media collaboration and expand the scope of partnership between the two institutions.
Both sides agreed that the meeting reflected a shared vision on the importance of building strategic partnerships that support innovation and invest in the future of media.
They also emphasised that this mutual understanding paves the way for future projects that serve cultural and technological exchange between the UAE and China, opening new avenues in digital media, training, and content creation.
The visit included a comprehensive presentation about Shams and its pioneering initiatives, with particular focus on the Shams Studios project-currently under development as a fully integrated space for creative and film production. The studio is designed to offer a flexible, professional environment built to the highest standards, attracting content creators and producers from around the world.
The tour also featured visits to key facilities including the podcast room, training and innovation zones, and a detailed introduction to some of Shams' flagship creative initiatives. These included "Hekaya - The Writing Room" and the Influencers Room, which received notable interest and appreciation from the Chinese delegation for their forward-thinking approach to supporting talent and content creators.
WAM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sharjah 24
13 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai
The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. It drew in early customers who flocked to attractions including a miniature train ride and a dragon-themed rollercoaster. "I personally love to play with Lego blocks and we have many sets at home... so I wanted to come to Legoland at the earliest opportunity," said Shi, a 35-year-old resident of nearby city Hangzhou, who was visiting the park with his wife and child. Despite the Chinese economy's sluggish growth in recent years, domestic tourist spending grew 18.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, according to statistics. "Ever since the pandemic, I've made very few trips abroad," said Shi, adding his family now travels to theme parks around China "many times a year". Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened, wearing themed shirts and waving branded flags as they enjoyed the 318,000-square-metre (78.5-acre) compound in scorching temperatures. Beijing has announced subsidies intended to make travelling within the country more affordable for Chinese citizens, and is pushing local governments to heavily market their attractions on social media. Companies have taken note of the wider local tourism boom and stepped up their plans in China. A new "Spider-Man" attraction at Shanghai Disneyland broke ground in May, while Warner Brothers is set to open a Harry Potter experience in Shanghai by 2027. Toy giant Hasbro said this week its giant Peppa Pig park in the city was now "in the phase of creative design". Chinese collectable toy maker Pop Mart has also opened an attraction in Beijing featuring life-sized versions of its popular Labubu toys. "The various provinces are putting a lot of effort into expanding their tourism industries, and all of them have special attractions," said Xu, a 34-year-old parent visiting Legoland on Saturday with his children. But profitability remains a problem, especially for local companies with less brand recognition. As of late 2024, around 40 percent of parks were still failing to turn a profit, according to state media reports. Yet analysts point to a growing population of retirees and job market changes as key factors pushing more locals to visit domestic attractions. "The labour market is turning more flexible," said Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Research. "More people have leisure time to travel around."
Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Arabian Post
Middle East Funds Chart Stronger Course into Chinese Markets
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A significant majority of sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East are poised to increase their investments in Chinese assets over the coming five years, according to the latest findings from Invesco's Global Sovereign Asset Management Study. This shift places China at the forefront of strategic allocation decisions, reflecting growing confidence in its innovation-led sectors. The study, conducted between January and March and covering funds and central banks managing a combined US$27 trillion, reveals that around 60% of Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds are planning to boost exposure to China. This places the region only behind Asia‑Pacific and Africa, where 88% and 80% of funds respectively intend to raise allocations. North American counterparts also show strong interest, with approximately 73% signalling intent to increase investment in China. ADVERTISEMENT Funds across regions cited strong returns—identified by 71% of respondents—as a key motivator, alongside diversification goals cited by 63% and improved market access for foreigners mentioned by 45%. Chinese innovation sectors, including digital technology, software, advanced manufacturing, automation, and clean energy, are particularly attractive, with 89% indicating interest in digital tech and software, and 70% each for manufacturing and green energy. Participants in the study included 141 senior investment professionals—chief investment officers, asset-class heads and portfolio strategists—drawn from 83 sovereign wealth funds and 58 central banks globally. The high participation rate lends weight to the findings: China is now ranked as a high or moderate priority for 59% of funds, a notable jump from the previous year. Despite geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing, sovereign funds appear more focused on structural opportunities. North American allocations towards China are framed as strategic, long-term bets in innovation rather than reactive moves to policy friction. As one Invesco executive described, investors appear driven by fear of missing out on China's strides in semiconductors, AI, EVs and renewable energy—'a strategic urgency they once directed toward Silicon Valley'. A regional lens reveals the Middle Eastern shift as part of a larger recalibration. Sovereign funds in the Gulf and from oil-rich neighbours are increasingly turning to China not just for commodity trades but for diversified returns and access to high-growth sectors. One Middle Eastern fund commented that the credit spectrum in fixed income markets currently offers more attractive risk-adjusted returns than public equities, underlining a broader repositioning. Globally, sovereign investors are embracing active management, allocating more to fixed income and private credit as markets normalise post ultra-low interest rate era. Thirty‑nine per cent of funds plan to increase fixed income exposure, underscoring a pivot towards liquidity management and resilience. Private credit usage has expanded sharply, from 30% to 44% in direct or co-investments, reflecting growing appetite for yield and portfolio diversification. Central banks are also reshaping strategy, with 64% planning to grow reserve holdings and 53% aiming to diversify further within two years. Gold remains a popular hedge: almost half intend to expand allocations over the next three years. The dominance of the US dollar persists, with 78% expecting no credible alternative supply within the next two decades. A modest entrant in the digital asset space, sovereign wealth funds are gradually increasing exposure to digital currencies. Direct allocations rose to 11% from 7% in 2022, most pronounced in the Middle East, Asia‑Pacific and North America. Stablecoins, viewed as more accessible than traditional crypto, are gaining attention among emerging market funds. China remains a focal point for global sovereign investors seeking exposure to growth-critical sectors and structural diversification. The convergence of strong returns, market access improvements, and sectoral opportunities is driving Middle Eastern and other funds to recalibrate their portfolios. China has transitioned from an optional allocation into a central pillar of future-focused asset strategies, marking a calculated investment pivot amid an evolving global landscape.
Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Arabian Post
Linyi Goods at Vietnam Expo Boost Sino-Viet Trade Ties
HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 July 2025 – The China Factory Products Export Fair 2025 was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from July 12 to 14. Hundreds of original manufacturers from places like Shandong province's Linyi city displayed thousands of products ranging from daily necessities, office supplies, chemical products, and outdoor equipment to hardware tools. This fair adopted a collaborative format, featuring segmented exhibition zones. With over 70 booths designated for the Chinese factory exhibition area, the event also hosted various online and offline activities. Additionally, 200 renowned Vietnamese and neighboring region brands and enterprises were invited to exhibit and participate, all aimed at facilitating market expansion for Vietnamese local and international exhibitors. The exhibition drew large crowds, with numerous Vietnamese buyers and citizens praising the high-quality products and affordable prices of 'Made in Linyi'. ADVERTISEMENT As a significant exhibitor at this expo, Linyi companies took advantage of direct supply from source factories to offer a wide range of high-quality product selections to the Vietnamese market. This not only met the diverse demands of the Vietnamese market but also established a direct bridge for Chinese and Vietnamese enterprises, promoting deep cooperation and exchange in trade between the two sides. Looking back at 2024, Linyi achieved remarkable results in foreign trade, demonstrating distinctive development trends in trade relations with Vietnam and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. Regarding trade with Vietnam, bilateral trade continued to steadily expand, with the total import and export volume reaching 4.77 billion yuan ($664.97 million). The trade structure between the two sides showed significant complementary features, with Linyi mainly exporting products such as wood veneer, plywood, and hand tools to Vietnam, while importing aluminum alloys, chemical raw materials, and natural rubber latex. Expanding the perspective to the entire ASEAN region, Linyi saw robust growth in imports and exports with ASEAN in 2024, with a total trade volume reaching 40.15 billion yuan, representing a 16.2 percent year-on-year increase. Looking ahead, Linyi will further deepen economic and trade exchanges with Vietnam and ASEAN countries, expand cooperation fields, elevate the level of cooperation, and achieve mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and common development. Hashtag: #Linyi The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
