On April 16, 2019, the conference on “China and the Middle East in the 21st century” was held in the Center for Middle Eastern Studies of Harvard University. The conference was co-held by the Middle East Studies Institute (MESI) of Shanghai International Studies University, and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies of Harvard University. Professor Sun Degang from the MESI served as the convener and Professor Lenore Martin of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies of Harvard University was the chair of the conference. As many as 60 participants joined the event.
William Granara, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies of Harvard University, made the welcome remark, and Professor Sun Degang conveyed greetings from the MESI.
Professor Ezra F. Vogel from Harvard University, Professor Robert S. Ross from Boston College, Associate Professor Bruce Rutherford from Colgate University and Professor Sun Degang from the MESI delivered speeches, and four researchers from research institutes including Tufts University, Harvard University and US Naval War College served as commentators.
Participants conducted fruitful academic discussions on China and the Middle East in the 21st century, the Belt and Road Initiative, the interaction among China, the US, Russia, India and Japan in the Middle East, China’s participation in Middle East livelihood governance, and China’s participation in Middle East security affairs.
