Boosted by the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation between China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — which established their diplomatic ties in 1984 — has accelerated deepening partnerships in a multi-faceted manner, said a Chinese business executive.

Sino-UAE ties have not only deepened in traditional areas like energy and infrastructure, but also in new grounds such as technological innovation and cultural exchange, said Tim Chen, key account manager of Newamstar Packaging Machinery, a listed company based in Jiangsu province with more than 2,300 production lines in over 100 countries and regions around the world.

Chen made the remarks as he led a delegation to attend the Gulfood Manufacturing 2024 exhibition, which concluded on Nov 7 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

He noted that Sino-UAE ties have flourished like a thriving tree with deep roots, adding that the expo served as both an industry display and a testament to China-UAE friendship.

Chen said Newamstar's smart factory solutions attracted significant attention from food and beverage manufacturers across the Middle East region.

"As a global leader in liquid packaging solutions and China's leading enterprise in the industry, Newamstar has successfully delivered over 2,300 production lines in more than 100 countries worldwide," Chen said.

"Our advanced integrated production-storage platform has revolutionized liquid packaging manufacturing by seamlessly connecting production and the warehouse through industrial IoT (the internet of things) technology, enhancing operational efficiency while reducing costs," he noted.

As China and the UAE continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, companies like Newamstar can serve as a bridge, fostering technological innovation and sustainable development across borders, Chen affirmed.

With its global expertise and forward-thinking approach, Newamstar is well-positioned to support the Middle East region's rapid growth in the food and beverage sector, while contributing to the ongoing success of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Newamstar's exhibits at Gulfood Manufacturing 2024 exemplified its commitment to advancing smart manufacturing in the food and beverage industry, Chen said, adding that by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as industrial IoT, digitalization and intelligent automation, Newamstar is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of liquid packaging manufacturing.