On December 22, 2025, Chao Weidong, a First-Level Inspector of the Third Bureau of the International Department of the Central Committee of CPC and former Ambassador to Togo, led a research group of six to visit Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). SISU President Li Yansong met with the delegation led by Ambassador Chao, and both sides exchanged views on further cooperation in Middle East studies and related fields. Subsequently, the research group held a regional situation seminar jointly with the Middle East Studies Institute (MESI) of SISU.

The seminar was chaired by Prof. Ding Jun, Director of the MESI of SISU. He extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Chao and his delegation for their visit and guidance to the institute and provided an overview of the academic research, journal development, and international exchanges of the MESI of SISU. Participating experts and scholars engaged in in-depth discussions on various topics, including the overall situation in the Middle East region in 2025 and the development trends for 2026, the political and economic development trends of major regional countries, the strategic adjustments of external powers such as the United States in the Middle East, the relationship between China and Middle Eastern countries, as well as China-Arab civilization exchanges and people-to-people interactions.

Ambassador Chao summarized the seminar, stating that this exchange is an important initiative to further strengthen cooperation with university think tanks. It also reflects the MESI’s active efforts to align with national strategic needs and enhance its advisory service capabilities. The seminar aimed to deepen the positive interaction between think tank research and policy formulation, better serving China’s major-country diplomacy with distinctive characteristics and the implementation and practice of the Four Global Initiatives in the Middle East region.

Participants in the exchange activities included Prof. Ding Long, Prof. Liu Shengxiang; Associate Prof. Han Jianwei; Associate Researcher Qian Xuming; Associate Prof. Chen Yueyang of the CARC of SISU; Xu Yan, Deputy Division Director of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office; Researcher Mao Xiaohong, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of SISU; and Zhao Mu, Deputy Director of the office, among others.