First Forum of Middle East Security and Development in Zhuhai Held on Zhuhai Campus, SYSU

    From Sep.12th to 13th, 2020, the First Forum of Middle East Security and Development in Zhuhai, co-organized by the Middle East Studies Center and Institute of Belt and Road Studies of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) was held on Zhuhai Campus of SYSU.

Wang Cheng, Party Secretary of the School of International Studies (SIS) of SYSU made an opening statement. Wu Sike, former Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for the Middle East, Gong Xiaosheng, former Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for the Middle East, Yang Guang, President of the Middle East Institute of China and Professor Zhou Lie, former President of Beijing International Studies University delivered keynote speeches.

    The hot issue of United Arab Emirates and State of Israel on normalization of bilateral relations was discussed in depth by over twenty experts and scholars. They shared their views on various aspects like the impact of this event on the evolution of the situation in the Middle East, the international reaction and China’s response. They also thoroughly exchanged their views on the discipline development of International and Regional Studies and the writing of the blue book, Report on the Development of Relations between China and the Arab States of the Gulf (2019-2020) co-edited by the Middle East Studies Center, SYSU and the Middle East Studies Center, Fudan University. These experts and scholars come from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shanghai International Studies University, Northwest University, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing Foreign Studies University, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and Social Sciences Academic Press (China).

    Initiated by the Middle East Studies Center of SYSU (one research center for international and regional studies approved by the Ministry of Education of China), the Forum of Middle East Security and Development in Zhuhai is aimed to create an internationally influential high-end platform for the exchange of ideas based in Guangdong and embrace the whole country. It also serves the promotion of the “Belt and Road” initiative and the development strategy of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.