On November 9, 2024, during the 2nd China-Arab Global Development and Governance Forum, Fudan University officially launched its International Master of Public Administration (IMPA) program. Distinguished attendees included President Li Jin of Fudan University, Amr Salama, Secretary-General of the Association of Arab Universities, Chunhua Yan, Vice President of the China Association of Higher Education, Xian Zhu, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the International Finance Forum, Sofiane Sahraoui, Director-General of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), Farraj Alajmi, Director of the Education and Scientific Research Department of the League of Arab States (Arab League), Faisal Swedan, Deputy Director of the Arab League Training Department, Dexanourath Seneduangdeth, Acting President of the National University of Laos (NUOL), Phouphet Kyophilavong, Vice President of the NUOL, Jinming Yan, Secretary-General of the National MPA Education Steering Committee, and Zhiming Chen, Vice President of Fudan University. Yan Chen, Assistant to the President and Dean of the Graduate School, presided over the ceremony.

       Jinming Yan delivered a keynote speech, warmly congratulating Fudan University on the launch of the IMPA program. He emphasized that the program is a timely and significant initiative aligned with the demands of the era and national priorities, aiming to cultivate talent for countries and regions along the Belt and Road, including Arab nations. Yan expressed confidence in the program’s success, leveraging Fudan’s strong foundation in public administration and Institute for Global Public Policy’s (IGPP) globalized perspective.

       Sofiane Sahraoui highlighted the potential for China-Arab cooperation in public administration. While acknowledging differences in administrative systems as a challenge to some initiatives, he affirmed the importance of the IMPA program as a vital bridge to enhance mutual understanding and communication between the two regions, paving the way for higher-level collaboration in public management.

       Yan Chen underscored the urgent global need for innovative degree and non-degree programs and noted that the establishment of the IMPA program demonstrates Fudan’s commitment to integrating its multidisciplinary strengths and international development to train leaders for global public governance and advance global leadership initiatives.

       The attendees witnessed the launch of the IMPA program.

       Following the ceremony, President Li Jin, Tippawan Lorsuwannarat, President of the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) in Thailand, and Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council in Thailand, signed a trilateral agreement. Lorsuwannarat and Pichayanan delivered speeches, stating that the agreement would advance trilateral academic exchanges and enhance the development of Thailand's public sector human resources in the 50th anniversary year of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. Li’an Lu, Director of the Office of Global Partnerships at Fudan University, moderated the signing ceremony

       President Li Jin and Acting President Dexanourath Seneduangdeth signed an agreement to jointly develop the IMPA program.

       Dean Yijia Jing of IGPP and Achakorn Wongpreedee, Dean of the Graduate School of Public Administration at NIDA, renewed their institutions’ cooperation agreement.