Central Bank of the UAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama and People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation during a meeting in Bangkok on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group. The talks explored opportunities to deepen financial and banking links and facilitate trade and investment flows, but the central bank did not announce specific new measures. The meeting builds on cooperation formalized in 2025 through initiatives including the Jisr cross-border central bank digital currency platform, the interlinking of the countries’ instant payment systems and an agreement on cross-border payments and financial infrastructure. China is the UAE’s largest trading partner, with bilateral non-oil trade reaching about AED 410 billion, or USD 111.5 billion, in 2025, up 24.5% from the previous year.
Central Bank of the UAE and People’s Bank of China governors discuss closer financial and banking cooperation
Central Bank of the UAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama and People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng discussed closer financial and banking cooperation, including support for bilateral trade and investment. The talks follow earlier joint work on cross-border digital currency payments and interconnected payment infrastructure, though no specific new measures were announced.