On November 19, 2025, Fudan University hosted the event “Approaching the League of Arab States,” jointly organized by the Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP), the Fudan Office of Global Partnership, and the Center for Advancing Global Collaboration. The event brought young and mid-career officials from the League of Arab States (LAS) Secretariat and the Association of Arab Universities (AARU) for discussions with Fudan faculty, students, and representatives. The discussion focused on the LAS’s organizational structure and internal operations, its role in the Middle East, its engagement on the global stage, and its strategic partnership with China. The event was moderated by Assistant Professor Jingyuan Xu at IGPP.

In his opening remarks, Dean Yijia Jing of IGPP emphasized that the exchange is an important component of the “Arab Academic Week” series, continuing Fudan University’s innovative practice of training young officials from the LAS. He underscored the importance of equal learning and collaborative engagement in building forward-looking partnerships. Reflecting on the historical ties underpinning China–Arab relations, he encouraged open and equitable dialogue to promote mutual learning in governance ideas and cooperation mechanisms, particularly in the context of the rise of the Global South and shifts in the world order.

During the presentations, representatives from the LAS Secretariat provided systematic briefings on the organization’s structure and functions, regional cooperation and security coordination, external cooperation mechanisms, and China–Arab relations.

Saud Aljaser from the Training Department delivered a presentation titled “Organizational Structure and Operational Mechanisms of the LAS,” outlining the key departments under the Secretary-General’s leadership, encompassing international politics, law, economy, society, media, and finance.

Zainulabdeen Mohammed Abdulk from the Gulf and Yemen Affairs Department spoke on “The LAS in Middle East Affairs,” detailing the structure and key responsibilities of the Arab Affairs and National Security section. He described mechanisms for political coordination, humanitarian assistance, and regional cooperation related to Gulf and Yemen affairs.

Wehdah Mosaed Ali Al-Shaeri, a legal officer in the Arms Control Department, delivered a presentation titled “The LAS on the Global Stage and the LAS–China Strategic Partnership.” She reviewed two decades of institutionalized external cooperation through summits and ministerial forums, highlighting the importance of multi-level and multi-issue cooperation frameworks in advancing shared interests and sustained practical collaboration. She also revisited the establishment of the China–Arab Cooperation Forum in 2004 and the first China–Arab Summit held in Riyadh in 2022.

During the discussion, Chinese participants, including Professor Jing Liao of the School of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Fudan University, Ruoyu Li from an international organization, Postdoctoral Fellow Tingzhong Huang of IGPP, and Huidi Zhao of Huawei Technologies, shared perspectives on governance mechanisms and cooperation platforms, youth development and cultural exchange. Participants noted that the LAS’s layered cooperation mechanisms provide institutionalized platforms for regional cooperation and cross-regional dialogue. They further emphasized that pragmatic, project-based cooperation and private-sector engagement are essential for translating high-level consensus into concrete and actionable outcomes.

During the interactive Q&A session, Fudan faculty and students engaged in discussions on youth exchange, cultural and educational cooperation. Representatives from the LAS introduced open internship programs for youth and students, Chinese-language education initiatives at Arab universities, and the “10+10” university cooperation plan, expressing their willingness to expand collaboration with Chinese universities and institutions in education, research, and youth development. Student representatives also shared their learning and collaborative experiences in the Arab region and expressed hopes to deepen mutual understanding and trust through language study and exchange visits.

The event concluded with a group photo of all guests, faculty, and students.