Two-way approach sees trade routes flourish

His business develops news apps in Arabic for markets in Arab states.

"It's not easy to find a place like the Zhongguancun International Incubation Center, where you have easy access to high-end talent, a vibrant entrepreneurial environment and favorable policy," he said.

Mohammed has lived in China since 2005. He completed his undergraduate program at the University of Science and Technology of China in 2010 and received his master's in computer science at Tsinghua University in 2015.

He obtained a China green card at the end of last year thanks to the policy that encourages foreign employees to make innovative contributions.

"With the green card, I can live like local people," he said.

While Arabs are increasingly trying to start businesses in China, Chinese companies have also moved to the Arab world for trade and investment.

Wei Jianqing, deputy general manager of China-Africa Teda Investment Co Ltd, has witnessed the Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone grow in Egypt.

He arrived to work in Egypt in 2008 and was told his company would transform a patch of desert into an economic zone. After 10 years, the 1.34 square kilometer zone has become home to 68 businesses, including 34 manufacturing enterprises, mostly from China.

The largest economic zone in Egypt, it is 30 minutes' drive from Suez and 90 minutes from Cairo. The location gives the zone convenient access to markets in Central, South and East Asia.

It has attracted investment of more than $1 billion in contract value, with an annual output value of about $140 million by the end of last year, creating more than 3,500 jobs for local people, according to the company.