On September 15-16, the 6^th International Forum on Asia and the Middle East — The Middle East Security and Development was held at Shanghai International Studies University. This Forum was co-held by the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, China Middle East Society and the Middle East Center of the Oxford University, co-organized by Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Institute of International Affairs of Shanghai Academy of Social Science, Turkish Studies Center of Shanghai University and West Asia Research Center of Indian Jawaharlal Nehru University.

More than 160 experts, scholars, diplomats, businessmen and media persons from more than 20 countries and regions including China, the UK, France, the US, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Turkey, Israel, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Singapore, and the Philippines attended the forum.

The opening ceremony of the forum on September 15 was chaired by the vice president of Shanghai International Studies University Feng Qinghua. Professor Li Yansong, president of the university, Gong Xiaosheng, China Special Envoy for the Middle East, Yang Guang, president of the China Middle East Society and the Institute of Western Asian Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Eugene Rogan, professor of Modern Middle Easter History, Director of the Middle East Center of University of Oxford delivered opening speech in succession.

In the afternoon of September 15, participants discussed topics including “Security and Development in the Middle East: Theory and Practice”, “The Multiple Dynamics of the Middle East Security”, “Security and Development: Cases of Egypt and Syria”, “East Mediterranean Security and Development”, “Security and Development: Cases of the Gulf” and “the West, Asia and Security and Development in the Middle East” by 6 parallel workshops.

The closing ceremony of the forum on September 16^th was chaired by vice director of the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University Sun Degang. Professor Liu Zhongmin, director of the Middle East Studies Institute, and Dr. Jiang Feng, chair of the University Council at Shanghai International Studies University made the conclusion remarks.

The International Forum on Asia and the Middle East was founded by theMiddle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University. It has already become among the most influential academic research platforms in China on Middle East studies.