From September 16 to 21, 2023, Li Yansong, president of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), led a delegation to visit Qatar, Jordan, and Oman. During the visit, the delegation discussed Arab-related cooperations in talent training and academic research with Qatar University (QU), Diplomatic Institute of Qatar, Association of Arab Universities (AArU), University of Jordan (UJ), Arab Thought Forum (ATF), Sultan Qaboos University in Oman (SQU) and other universities, think-tanks, and academic groups.
On September 17, Li led the delegation to visit QU and exchanged views with Omar Al-Ansari, president of QU, and representatives of the Gulf Research Center (GRC) on joint graduate programs and scientific research cooperation in the fields of Arabic language, literature, culture, and area studies. The two sides agreed on further deepening cooperation on the current basis.
Li meets with Omar Al-Ansari, president of QU.
On the same day, the delegation visited the Diplomatic Institute of Qatar and was received by Director Abdulaziz Al-Horr. They engaged in extensive discussions on the details of joint training of diplomatic talents, mutual visits of scholars, online courses sharing, construction of China-Arab think tank alliance, and international Chinese language education. The two sides expressed a common will to promote the China-Qatar relation through cooperation in education, scientific research, and training.
Li exchanges souvenirs with Abdulaziz Al-Horr, director of the Diplomatic Institute of Qatar.
On September 18, the delegation visited ATF and UJ. At ATF, Li and Ayman Mufleh, the acting secretary-general of ATF, reached agreements with a Memorandum of Understanding signed on joint training of graduate students and cooperation in scientific research and between think tanks. During the visit to UJ, SISU delegation, as a member of the delegation from the China Association of Higher Education (CAHE) had a formal meeting with all university leaders, during which Li offered specific suggestions on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the two universities. The delegation also visited the Language Center and Translation Center of UJ, Jordan Folklore Museum, and Jordan Archaeological Museum. On the same day, Li was invited to visit Jordan’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Embassy of China in Jordan.
Li and Ayman Mufleh, acting secretary-general of ATF, signs the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation.
Li exchanges souvenirs with Nathir Obeidat, president of UJ
On September 19, as the secretariat unit of the consortium, SISU attended the Inaugural Meeting of China-Arab Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism and the China-Arab Higher Education Forum, which was held in Amman, Jordan. At the meeting, SISU and UJ signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation and Student Exchange Agreement.
SISU signs cooperation agreement with UJ
Group photo of the Inaugural Meeting of China-Arab Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism
On September 20, the delegation visited SQU in Oman. Li and Fahad, president of SQU had in-depth exchanges on the details of platforms, projects, and subjects of talent training and scientific research cooperation. The two parties reached a high degree of consensus successfully.
Li talks with Fahad, president of SQU in Oman.
This visit further consolidated and expanded the cooperation between SISU and universities and think tanks in Arab countries, strongly enhanced SISU’s academic influence among higher education community and think tanks in Arab countries. It played a significant role in promoting in-depth cooperation with Arab countries on higher education and scientific research, and mutual exchanges between Chinese and Arabic civilization in the future. Department heads from China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, the Middle East Studies Institute, Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation, and the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange accompanied the visit.
