On January 11, 2026, the 2nd Fudan–Arab League Excellence Internship Program, held in conjunction with the China–Egypt University Students Dialogue on Culture and Global Governance, was officially launched at the Secretariat of the League of Arab States (LAS) in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Jointly initiated by Fudan University and the Secretariat of the LAS, the program is co-organized by the Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) at Fudan University and the Training Department of the LAS, with support from The American University in Cairo. It is implemented by the General Secretariat of the LAS–Fudan Centre for Global Leadership Development (currently in preparation). Drawing on multiple departments at the LAS headquarters, the internship provides Chinese university students with hands-on professional experience while fostering deeper mutual understanding between China and Arab countries through youth-level exchanges.

Following a nationwide open call and a rigorous selection process, 21 students were chosen from leading Chinese universities, including Fudan University and Peking University. Their academic backgrounds span public administration, international relations, economics, and law. The selected students will participate in a two-week internship and exchange program.

Officials from the LAS, including Minister Plenipotentiary Dina Seif of the Training Department, attended the opening ceremony. In her welcoming remarks, Minister Plenipotentiary Seif emphasized that the internship is not only a valuable professional learning opportunity but also an important platform for enhancing mutual understanding, deepening cooperation, and fostering personal growth. She encouraged the students to make full use of their time at the LAS to broaden their international perspectives while strengthening their professional expertise. Reflecting on the longstanding partnership between the LAS and Fudan University, she noted that 2025 had been a fruitful year for bilateral cooperation and expressed confidence in further progress and deeper collaboration in 2026.

Director Tarek El Nabulsi of the Department of Development and Social Policies delivered the first thematic lecture, titled “An Overview of the LAS.” He introduced the organization’s institutional framework and guiding principles, and outlined key initiatives planned for 2026, including a China–Arab Women’s Dialogue and a series of civilizational dialogue forums, underscoring the broad and multidimensional prospects for China–Arab cooperation.

Following the lecture, the interns toured the LAS headquarters, gaining first-hand insight into its organizational structure, working environment, and operational mechanisms.

During the internship, participants will be placed in various LAS departments under the mentorship of senior officials, enabling them to systematically learn about the organization’s daily operations and policy practices. Based on their academic backgrounds and individual interests, interns will be assigned to departments such as Education and Scientific Research, and Culture and Civilizational Dialogue. The program also includes visits to the Embassy of China in Egypt, where participants will engage with current issues and policy trends in China–Arab relations. Through cultural visits and exchanges with Egyptian university students, interns will gain a deeper understanding of Egyptian society and cultural traditions, further enriching their knowledge of the Arab world.

Prior to their departure for Egypt, the interns gathered in Shanghai to attend a pre-departure orientation organized by IGPP at Fudan University. Dean Yijia Jing highlighted the strategic significance of the program for China–Arab relations and for cultivating global governance talent. He encouraged students to approach the internship with respect and openness toward diverse civilizations, to deepen their understanding of the LAS’s role in promoting regional peace and development, and to embody the responsibility and spirit of Chinese youth in advancing cultural exchange and presenting a positive national image.

As the Chinese planning and implementing institution of the program, IGPP maintains multi-level cooperation with the Secretariat of the LAS and universities across China and the Arab world. It serves as the Chinese lead institution in the field of public policy under the China–Arab University “10+10 Cooperation Plan” and initiated the China–Arab Network of Schools of Public Policy and Administration (CANSPPA), which includes 20 member universities and research institutions. IGPP also organizes the annual China–Arab Forum on Global Development and Governance, the China–Arab Youth Summit, and academic training programs for mid-career LAS officials. Through its International Master of Public Administration program, IGPP admits mid-career LAS officials each year for advanced study at Fudan. On November 20, 2025, Fudan University conferred an honorary doctorate upon Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the LAS, marking a new milestone in the partnership between the two sides.