On the morning of March 9, 2023, Professor Chen Xiancai, Director of the Center of Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University, a key research base for humanities and social sciences of the Ministry of Education, and a group of four researchers, including Zeng Lingjun, Lin Yuexian, and Li Rui, visited the Middle East Studies Institute (MESI) of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) for work exchange and academic discussion with our researchers. Professor Ding Jun, Director of the Institute, Associate Researcher Yu Yong, Deputy Director of the Institute and researchers Liu Shengxiang, Ding Long, Niu Song, Fan Hongda, Zhao Jun, Bao Chengzhang, Han Jianwei and Wen Shaobiao attended the seminar.

Director Ding Jun welcomed the visit of Chen Xiancai and his delegation, and briefly introduced the development history of the Institute and its construction as a key research base of humanities and social sciences of the Ministry of Education, emphasizing that in the new era and new situation, it is important to strengthen the mutual contact and communication among the bases to further improve the comprehensive research capacity and the ability to provide advisory and political services. Deputy Director Yu Yong introduced to the guests the research projects, daily operation of the base and think tank construction of the Institute of Middle East Studies. Director Chen Xiancai introduced the Center of Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University in terms of faculty construction, talent training, journal construction and advisory services. Researchers including Zeng Lingjun, Lin Yuexian and Li Rui also made speeches on the construction of the base.

After that, Director Chen Xiancai gave a lecture entitled ‘The Latest Development of the Current Political Situation in Taiwan’, in which he gave an in-depth explanation on the political ecology of Taiwan, the situation in the Taiwan Strait and cross-strait affairs from the perspective of the world’s major changes, emphasizing that promoting the integration and development of cross-strait relations and striving for the peaceful reunification of the motherland are most consistent with the overall interests of the Chinese nation, including the compatriots in Taiwan. The lecture emphasized that promoting the integration and development of cross-strait relations and striving for the peaceful reunification of the motherland is in the best interest of the Chinese nation, including the Taiwan compatriots.

After the lecture, researchers from both sides had a lively discussion and in-depth exchanges on regional and international hot issues in their respective research fields, and a broad consensus was reached on the development of ‘cross-integration’ research and joint research on thematic projects in related fields. Director Ding Jun expressed his heartfelt thanks to Director Chen Xiancai for his excellent lecture and the experts from the Center of Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University for their valuable advice, and looked forward to further strengthening the interaction and cooperation with the Center of Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University in the future.