On the morning of November 14, 2025, the 2nd Academic Training Program for Officials of the League of Arab States (LAS) Secretariat and the Association of Arab Universities (AARU) officially opened at Fudan University. The program is organized by the Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) at Fudan University and the Fudan–Arab Research Centre for Global Development and Governance, with co-sponsorship from the Fudan Office of Global Partnerships, the Fudan International Student Office, and the Fudan Development Institute. Ten young officials from the LAS and AARU will engage in a ten-day program exploring cutting-edge topics and cooperation pathways in AI and global governance.

Dean Yijia Jing of IGPP, Director Li’an Lu of the Fudan Office of Global Partnerships, Director Kui Su of the Fudan International Student Office, and Founder Dean Nora Colton of the UCL Global Health Business School attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The ceremony was hosted by Assistant Professor Jingyuan Xu of IGPP.

In his welcome remarks, Dean Jing highlighted Fudan University’s collaboration with the LAS in global governance and talent development. He emphasized that the training, themed “AI and Global Governance,” aims to deepen participants’ understanding of China’s development practices and digital governance experiences while promoting dialogue and mutual understanding between Chinese and Arab youth. He encouraged participants to fully engage in the program’s structured courses, thematic seminars, and company visits, and to experience both Shanghai’s innovative vitality and Fudan University’s academic heritage.

Saud Yousef Aljaser delivered a speech on behalf of all participants, expressing gratitude for the careful organization of the program. He noted that the training would enhance participants’ understanding of China’s governance system and cutting-edge technological developments, while fostering opportunities for future collaboration.

Director Lu emphasized that the program’s theme reflects frontier topics in contemporary global development and expressed hope that the training would further strengthen exchange and collaboration between Chinese and Arab youth.

Director Su introduced Fudan University’s international student training system and degree programs, encouraging participants to consider further studies at Fudan and to serve as bridges connecting China and the Arab world.

Professor Colton shared her teaching and research experiences in the Middle East and expressed high expectations for future Sino-Arab cooperation in areas including health and artificial intelligence.

Finally, young officials from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, and Somalia introduced themselves, expressing enthusiasm for learning from China’s experiences, strengthening Sino-Arab youth dialogue, and promoting global cooperation.

The training camp will cover topics such as AI governance and the digital economy, featuring lectures, field visits, and Sino-Arab youth dialogues. It aims to provide a platform for learning, exchange, and collaborative exploration of the future.