The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development in cooperation with the Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC and ICBC organized on May 31, 2010 an economic forum entitled "Abu Dhabi and China". The event was held in Shanghai with well over 200 key figures from government, finance and business from the two countries taking part. The Forum provided a unique platform for the frank exchange of views in maintaining the momentum in trade, financial cooperation and project investment opportunities at this time of post-financial crisis.

In his keynote address entitled "Economic Recovery and Win-Win", ICBC Senior Executive Vice President Yi Huiman explained the new financial landscape after the crisis and the trade ties between China and Abu Dhabi, in the past and days ahead. The "Industry-Finance Partnership" was a successful experience in the course of Chinese economic progress. Yi Huiman related that while reshaping its business during China's reform and opening-up, ICBC keeps good interaction between economy and financial sector by playing an active role in China's urbanization, industrialization, informatization and internationalization. ICBC extends credit to sectors of electric power and grid, oil and petrochemical, new energy, railway, highway and urban infrastructure. High-speed rails, super highways, city grid reconstruction, clean energy and modern equipment manufacturing are examples of projects under ICBC loans which have generated considerable economic and social benefits. With an asset scale of RMB 12.5 trillion and a loan scale of RMB 6 trillion by the end of this March, ICBC has become the world's most profitable listed bank and it also leads the world in terms of market capitalization and deposit base. With 16232 outlets in the country, 162 overseas subsidiaries and a global network of 1504 correspondent banks, ICBC offers a full range of financial products and services to 3.61 million corporate clients and 216 million individual customers. ICBC tops the domestic league tables in many business areas.

Yi Huiman further explained the ICBC support to China economy throughout this global financial crisis. Beginning from the fourth quarter in 2008, ICBC increased its lending to key investment projects to support the sectoral reform and upgrade in response to the State's policy of "effect structural adjustment, expand internal demand, sustain economic growth". As one new economic growth point, emerging sectors such as new energy, new technology, low carbon economy, modern services are given the first priority to receive ICBC loans. ICBC extends credit to small-and-medium enterprises to create employment opportunities, while at the same time offering consumer loans to individuals to boost the consumer economy. In 2009, ICBC released another RMB 1.03 trillion of loans in all kinds in the country accounting for a year-on-year growth of RMB 498.4 billion, or 24.2%. ICBC has been successful in using leveraged lending to support the recovery of national economy, change and upgrade in industry structure and balanced growth between investment and consumer spending.

Yi Huiman mentioned how ICBC started from a first-class bank in the country to a world-class bank. ICBC follows the cross-border customers to go global. Today, ICBC boosts a global service network of 162 overseas subsidiaries under 23 branches in 20 countries/regions. South African Standard Bank, ICBC's holding bank in South Africa, has subsidiaries in 17 African countries and 21 countries outside Africa. Yi Huiman pointed out that ICBC will continue to use leveraged lending to support the Chinese companies and assist them to "Go Global" as well. By dint of its advanced global network and advantages in information and capital, ICBC backs the Chinese infrastructure companies, offering services to Chinese companies to invest overseas, contract overseas project or export of high-tech machinery and equipment. And for overseas mergers and acquisitions by Chinese "Go Global" enterprises and their overseas operations, ICBC provides an array of services. That includes project financing, M&Q advisory, export credit, financial advisory, global cash management, RMB cross-border settlement and NRA. Meanwhile, ICBC as the "bi-directional coordinator" will continue to facilitate the partnership between top Chinese companies and overseas investors and offer a wide spectrum of quality, highly efficient, highly secure financial services across countries.

Yi Huiman stated that "Industry-Finance Partnership" is an experience of China, but a reference for Abu Dhabi as well. Over the past few years ICBC views the Abu Dhabi an important region. ICBC beefs up its service capability in the area by having three branches in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi supporting each other. At present, ICBC and Abu Dhabi make good progress in driving forward the "Industry-Finance Partnership" in the sectors of oil and petrochemical, aviation, infrastructure facilities and engineering construction. Achieving the ideal win-win situation is highly desirable as the world economy is roaring back to life. The growing trade flows between China and Abu Dhabi present huge demand for financial services and have made it a magnet to push the prosperity of "Industry-Finance Partnership".

At the Forum, guests from home and abroad shared opinions and views on the topics "Strategic Partnership of China and Abu Dhabi in Energy", "How China Meet the Abu Dhabi's Infrastructure Needs", "China Investment Opportunities in Abu Dhabi's Industry Sector". The Forum has successfully brought together ICBC, large-scale Chinese enterprises and major Abu Dhabi companies and a step forward for Chinese enterprises to "Go Global" in this region.