From November 13th to 18th, the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development (CARC) hosted a delegation of Saudi think tanks led by Wahid Bin Ahmed, Senior Advisor of the Saudi Knowledge Research and Exchange Center. The delegation consists of nine central experts and university scholars. Their research areas include economics, management, literature, journalism, etc. During the six-day visit, the center arranged a variety of exchanges and study activities for the Saudi think tank delegation, communicated with officials, experts and scholars in related fields in Beijing and Shanghai.
Professor Li Yansong, President of SISU, met with the delegation of Saudi think tank
On the afternoon of November 13, Professor Li Yansong, President of SISU and Director of CARC, met with experts and scholars from the Saudi think tank delegation. During the meeting, President Li Yansong expressed his warm welcome to the visitors. He believed that mutual inspiring and learning between China and Saudi Arabia is particularly important and valuable. He hoped that Saudi Arabia could actively support the activities of the CARC and promote further cooperation between the two sides through active bilateral exchanges, especially in the field of think tanks cooperation. It is hoped to enhance academic exchanges, promote the academic cooperation of think tank institutions, and lay the foundation for long-term cooperation in various fields. Professor Wahid, on behalf of Saudi Arabian Knowledge Research and Exchange Center, thanked President Li Yansong for his invitation and reception. The cultural and academic exchanges between China and Saudi Arabia are continuously increasing. He hoped that SISU and CARC could strengthen the knowledge research of Saudi Arabia and intensify cooperation in various fields with communication center.
Saudi think tank delegation visited the Arabic language department
Before the meeting, the delegation of the Saudi think tank visited the Arabic Department of SISU, the teaching class and the King Faisal Library, accompanied by Lu Yiwei, the vice dean of the Oriental Language Institute, and exchanged ideas with students and teachers. After that, the think tank delegation visited CARC and held talks. Professor Wang Guangda, Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Central Council, introduced the general situation and development history of the center and the experience of China's 40 years of reform and opening up, explained the operation mechanism and Chinese language teaching of the Confucius Institute which are concerned by Saudi delegation. Afterwards, the Chinese and Saudi scholars held an exchange discussion. Professor Zhu Weilie, Ding Jun, and Associate Professor Lu Yiwei attended the meeting. The two sides conducted in-depth discussions on Sino-Saudi cooperation, academic exchanges, personnel training, reform and opening up. Professor Zhu Weili welcomed the Saudi think tank delegation and predicted China-Saudi Arabia's friendly relations and development of multi-field cooperation mechanisms. Under the framework of China's “Belt and Road ” initiative and Saudi “2030” vision, the Saudi side proposed to intensify exchanges and interactions in the areas of economy, teaching, academics, anti-terrorism and infrastructure to promote common prosperity.
The think tank delegation visited the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development(CARC)
On the morning of November 16, the Saudi think tank delegation had discussions and exchanges with Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Li Chengwen, Ambassador of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and President of Council of CARC; An Huihou, Former Director of the Asian and African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Former Ambassador to five countries including Egypt; Wang Shijie, Former Special Envoy of China's Middle East Issue; Yang Honglin; Deng Shaoqin, Former Chinese Ambassador to Sudan and Oman, met with the Saudi think tank. At the symposium, Ambassador Li Chengwen welcomed the visit of the Saudi think tank delegation and introduced them to CARC and the cooperation with the China Foundation for International Studies. The Arab side introduced the research content and main concern of Saudi Knowledge Research and Exchange Center. The Saudis praised China's political stance and support for Saudi Arabia, appreciated China's achievements in the field of reform and development, and hoped that through academic exchanges, the two sides will establish closer cooperation and achieve mutual learning and common development. In addition, the two sides held friendly exchanges on issues such as think tank cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, classic translation, reform and development, and governance of the country.
Saudi think tank delegation had discussions and exchanges with Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, the Saudi think tank team also visited the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, Yangshan Deepwater Port, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Songjiang Mosque and other places. At the Yangshan Deepwater Port, Saudi scholars were amazed at China's ability to build a world-class international deep-water port in such a short period, and personally experienced the results of China's 40 years of reform and opening up. At the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the staff introduced to the Saudis the main situation of China's securities market and the way of Saudi Capital investment in China. During the stay in Beijing, Saudi scholars also exchanged ideas with Arabic teachers and students in institutions such as Beijing Foreign Studies University and Beijing Language and Culture University. Saudi scholars believed that this visit is conducive to strengthening mutual trust and promoting academic cooperation, also proposed to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism with CARC, promote non-governmental exchanges and academic visits, and reach a cooperation agreement as soon as possible so as to provide intellectual support for reform and development and governance of the country for both sides.
Saudi think tank visited Shanghai Stock Exchange
Saudi think tank visited Yangshan deep-water port
The Saudi Knowledge Research and Exchange Center was established in 2016, which is one of the most important think tanks of the Saudi royal family. The current chairman of the center is Yahya Mohamed bin Jonard. The main research direction of the center is humanistic studies and research on contemporary international issues.