On July 12, the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-Arab Gen Z Youth Global Governance and Sustainable Development Exchange Program, jointly hosted by Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) and Cairo University, was successfully held at Cairo University.
In February 2025, Yin Dongmei, Chair of the University Council of SISU, led a delegation to Cairo University and held talks with Mohamed Sami Mohammed Abdelsadek, the President of Cairo University, on jointly advancing the China-Arab Universities 10+10 Cooperation Plan and establishing the Chinese and Egyptian Center for Language, Humanities and Science. The two sides reached a consensus on jointly fostering the growth of Chinese and Arab youth and organizing summer camps for Gen Z youth, with the inaugural exchange program successfully held in July 2025. Building on the foundation of long-term strategic cooperation between the two universities, this year's program focuses on frontier areas such as mutual learning among civilizations, regional economic transformation, and AI-empowered sustainable development, officially launching a new round of people-to-people and academic exchanges between Chinese and Arab youth.
The ceremony was attended by Prof. Abdelsadek, Vice Presidents Prof. Mahmoud El-Saeed and Prof. Ahmed Ragab, and Director of the International Relations Office Prof. Heidi Mohamed Bayoumy. SISU delegates included Ye Wei, Secretary of the SISU Youth League Committee; Zhang Xuefeng, Deputy Director of the Arabic Department, School of Asian and African Studies; Zhao Jun, Associate Professor at the Middle East Studies Institute; and Tan Min, Assistant Research Fellow at the Center for China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, along with faculty and student representatives from both universities.
Prof. Abdelsadek delivered a keynote speech. He noted that China and Egypt, both civilizations with vast and rich histories, have long maintained close collaboration in culture, education, social development, and academic research. The mutually trust and mutually beneficial partnership between Cairo University and SISU serves as a vivid microcosm of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership in higher education. Looking ahead, Cairo University looks forward to broadening collaboration with SISU, deepening joint academic endeavors, faculty-student exchanges, and dual-degree programs, so as to build a high-quality international platform for the growth and development of Chinese and Arab youth. He encouraged all participants to engage diligently in thoughtful inquiry, forge lasting friendships, and broaden their horizons through immersive learning and exploration in Cairo.
Prof. Mahmoud El-Saeed highly commended the sustained and fruitful cooperation between the two universities. He pointed out that the youth exchange program jointly organized by the two universities is a high-level cooperation platform that promotes cross-cultural understanding and cultivates internationally minded talents with a diverse range of skills. As bastions of cultural heritage, knowledge innovation, and talent cultivation, universities should provide young people with ample space to engage with diverse civilizations, deliberate on real-world issues, and participate in international cooperation, thereby continuously enhancing their intercultural communication skills and global competence.
Ye Wei, Secretary of the SISU Youth League Committee, noted that 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt, lending profound significance and a special mission to this year's program. The program adopts an integrated model of professional practice – field research – international communication, aimed at cultivating urgently needed talents with global competence for international affairs. The student delegation covers multiple academic backgrounds including multilingual studies, area studies, and international relations, combining solid language proficiency with broad international perspectives. She encouraged all participants to adopt a youth-oriented perspective, focus on practical issues in China-Arab cooperation, innovate collaborative approaches, and take active initiative in global governance practices.
Prof. Heidi Mohamed Bayoumy, Director of the International Cooperation Office at Cairo University, extended a warm welcome to the SISU delegation and expressed sincere gratitude to the organizing teams from both universities for their meticulous work. She remarked that this program builds a bridge of youth dialogue connecting two great ancient civilizations, and that deepening educational cooperation and people-to-people exchanges will continuously consolidate the public foundation for China-Egypt friendship. She expressed her hope that young people from both universities would deepen mutual understanding and forge friendships through mutual learning, becoming vibrant bonds that sustain generational friendship and promote civilizational exchanges.
Following the opening ceremony, the delegation attended a special lecture titled Symphony of River Civilizations: China-Egypt Relations delivered by Prof. Tarek Sayed Tawfik, Professor of Archaeology at Cairo University and former Director of the Grand Egyptian Museum. The lecture traced the development of ancient Egyptian civilization through the threads of cultural heritage, historical artifacts, and regional cultural landscapes, explaining the curatorial philosophy of the Grand Egyptian Museum and its value in civilizational dissemination, while vividly presenting the enduring and profound interactions between Chinese and Egyptian civilizations across time and space.
After the lecture, the delegation toured the Cairo University Museum and the University History Museum, immersing themselves in the campus cultural environment and exploring the university's foundational heritage as well as the development of higher education in Egypt.
The exchange program is scheduled to last ten days. During this period, Chinese and Egyptian youth will engage in joint activities including thematic lectures, youth leadership workshops, and cross-border field research. Through immersive, action-oriented exchanges, they will learn from each other and grow together, writing a new chapter of mutual understanding and shared progress between Chinese and Arab youth along the banks of the Nile.
During the program, the delegation will visit the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the League of Arab States headquarters to gain systematic insights into the history of bilateral friendly relations between China and Egypt, as well as the operational mechanisms of China-Arab multilateral cooperation. Leveraging SISU's 100 Groups, 1000 Enterprises corporate social practice initiative for overseas operations, the delegation will conduct on-site research at leading Chinese enterprises in Egypt, including Huawei, Midea, Xiaomi, and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. They will hold special seminars on topics such as localization strategies, overseas development opportunities, and practical challenges, observing the times from a youth perspective and contributing youthful wisdom to the high-quality overseas expansion of Chinese enterprises.
