On the morning of June 15, 2023, the 11th session of the Middle East Studies Society hosted by the Middle East Studies Institute (MESI) of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) was held at the Hongkou Campus. Associate Researcher Wang Duanyong from School of International Relations and Public Affairs, SISU was invited to give a lecture titled Walking in Iraq-Iran: Fieldwork Experience Sharing.

The lecture was moderated by Assistant Researcher Wen Shaobiao of MESI, and Researcher Zhang Yuan participated in the dialogue. Journalist Hong Junjie from Liberation Daily, journalists Zhang Hongri and Yuan Yihong from the Observer, Deputy Director Yu Yong of MESI and researchers Ding Long, Niu Song, Zhao Jun, Han Jianwei, Bao Chengzhang and other graduate students from the Institute attended this lecture.

During the lecture, Associate Researcher Wang Duanyong gave an in-depth explanation of the economic and social development of Iran and Iraq, combining specific cases from field surveys. After that, he gave a comprehensive analysis of the key areas of cooperation between Iran and Iraq and China in the future, focusing on the inferences related to the oil economy. Finally, Wang emphasized that China should attach importance to the trade partnership with Iran and Iraq, and promote the international production capacity cooperation combining infrastructure and equipment manufacturing to achieve mutual benefit and win-win situation for all countries.

In the dialogue session, Researcher Zhang Yuan said that field research is one of the important research methods in social sciences, and the rich field research experience of Associate Researcher Wang Duanyong is of great significance to promote the cultivation of talents and discipline construction of regional country studies.

At the end of the lecture, Wang also interacted with the students and teachers on the application of field research in the Middle East and the relationship between field research and theoretical reserve, and answered the questions raised in detail.

Assistant Researcher Wen Shaobiao summarized the lecture and expressed his gratitude to Wang for his wonderful lecture and Researcher Zhang Yuan for her wonderful comments, as well as to all the students and teachers for their enthusiastic participation.

The Middle East Studies Society is one of the important academic exchange platforms built by MESI, aiming at enhancing the awareness of the frontier issues of regional and country studies, deepening the understanding of the current situation of the Middle East, and conducting Middle East studies with an interdisciplinary perspective and approach through various forms of salon activities.