On September 27-28, 2025, the 9th International Academic Forum on Asia and the Middle East was successfully held at Shanghai International Studies University. The forum featured a special workshop titled “Yemen and the Red Sea: Dynamics, Security, and Regional Implications” , jointly organized by Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, the Chinese Embassy in Yemen, and Yemen's Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies. Nearly 40 representatives from various sectors in China, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Iran, and other countries attended the session. On October 3, the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies published the following report on the forum:
Sana’a Center Discusses Yemen Crisis and Red Sea Escalation at the 9th International Forum in Shanghai
The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies took part in the 9th International Forum on Asia and the Middle East, hosted by Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) from September 26–28. Sana’a Center experts presented papers and participated in discussions on Yemen’s ongoing crisis and the growing tensions in the Red Sea.
Held under the theme “The World and the Middle East from the Perspective of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind: Great Changes and New Developments,” the forum brought together scholars and policymakers from around 25 countries, along with representatives from international institutions. Discussions covered shifting power dynamics in Asia and the Middle East, the roles of regional and global actors, transformations in the energy sector, and issues of development and global governance.
Sana’a Center Chairperson Maged Al-Madhaji spoke during the opening session. Other Sana’a Center experts joined two panels examining the complexities of the Yemeni conflict, its regional security implications, and the recent escalation in the Red Sea following Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and global trade routes.
Al-Madhaji noted that the Sana’a Center’s participation marked the beginning of efforts to build greater mutual understanding with international partners. He highlighted the importance of engaging with global powers—particularly China—as Yemen and the wider region hold a strategic place within Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
He also emphasized that the forum’s discussions offered valuable insights into China’s evolving interests in the Middle East and how these may influence developments in Yemen.
On the sidelines of the forum, the Sana’a Center delegation held bilateral meetings with several participants, including Chinese officials who expressed clear interest in a more active role for Beijing in mediating the Yemeni conflict, particularly with regard to its economic and development aspects.
About the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies
The Sana’a Center is an independent think tank that seeks to foster change through knowledge production and dialogue. The Center specializes in Yemen and the surrounding region, offering in-depth research and analysis on political, economic, and social issues.
About Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)
Founded in 1949, Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) is one of China’s leading institutions for language and international studies. It hosts several prominent research centers, including the Middle East Studies Institute, a key hub for academic research on the region. SISU maintains partnerships with hundreds of institutions worldwide and is recognized for cultivating academic and diplomatic expertise and promoting international exchange.
Source: Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies
(The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author or the interviewee, and do not represent the position of this research institution)
