On October 17, the Kuwait delegation visited the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development (CARC). The friendly talks were held in the International Conference Center at Hongkou Campus. The meeting was attended by Professor Zhu Weilie, Director of the Expert Committee of CARC; Li Weijian, Vice President of the China Middle East Institute and Researcher of the Shanghai Institute of International Studies; Professor Wang Youyong, Deputy Director of the Center; Professor Wang guangda, Secretary-general and Executive Director of the Central Council; Ding Jun, Researcher at the Middle East Institute, and Associate Professor Chen Yueyang from the Oriental Language Institute.
In the morning, the center experts welcomed the delegation consisting of three Kuwaiti think tanks led by Anwar, the chief coordinator of the University of Kuwait Academic Board, at the Triumph Hall of the International Conference Center at Hongkou Campus. The talks were hosted by Professor Wang Guangda. At the meeting, the two sides exchanged and discussed the cooperation between the two sides under the Belt and Road initiative. The guests said that their deputy prime minister paid close attention to the “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and hoped that the cooperation between the two countries will carry out a mutual beneficial and win-win cooperation, such as jointly promoting the development of the “Silk City” project in Kuwait and the development of the Five Islands Comprehensive Development Zone cconstruction project. Chinese experts have suggested that China and Kuwait should establish a model of cooperation for China and Arab countries. The “Belt and Road” cooperation requires a stable regional environment, the conflicts and competitions within the region are important constraints for regional development. In addition, the two sides also exchanged views on hot issues and other issues of common concern.
In the afternoon, the center experts welcomed a Kuwait media delegation of 13 members led by Fu Ade, deputy director of the Kuwaiti National News Agency, at the Rhine Hall of the International Convention Center. The meeting was hosted by Professor Wang Youyong.
Before the start of the talks, the Center specially invited researcher Wang Yiwei from the Institute of Xi Jinping's New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics of Chinese People's University and the National Development and Strategy Institute, gave a lecture entitled Discovering the Old World and Developing the New World. In the lecture, Professor Wang Yiwei explained to the Kuwait delegation the connotation, traits and spirit of the “Belt and Road” initiative. The Kuwait media representatives raised their doubts about China's Middle East policy, China's views on the Gulf issue, and China's regional country studies. Chinese scholars answered them one by one. Through sincere and direct exchanges, both sides realized that China and Arab countries need more mutual recognition to enhance trust and dispel doubts. President Fu Aide thanked the center for the warm reception and hoped to see more practical and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.
Think tank research and people-to-people exchanges are important connotations of the four platforms built by CARC. The center will strengthen exchanges with well-known think tanks, scholars and media in the Arab countries, and intensify the national situation tracking research for Arab countries, in order to provide more knowledge supply and intellectual support for Sino-Arab cooperation.
