On May 16, 2019, delegation of Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa University visited the Middle East Studies Institute (MESI) of Shanghai International Studies University. The delegation was constituted by Associate professor Reem A. Meshal, Associate Professor Sophie Richter-Devroe and Assistant Professor Marc O. Jones. The meeting was chaired by Bao Chengzhang, assistant to the MESI director, and participated by MESI staff Zou Zhiqiang, Qian Xuming and Shu Meng.

Bao Chengzhang conveyed the greetings from Professor and MESI director Liu Zhongmin, and introduced the general information of the MESI, including the historical evolution, institutional setup, research direction and journal construction of the institute. Marc O. Jones introduced the research characteristics and talent training of the Middle East Studies Department of Hamad Bin Khalifa University in the fields of digital humanities and the Middle East women's movement. Combined their respective dominant disciplines and research characteristics, a preliminary intention was reached on exchanges and cooperation in the fields of academic research, personnel training, and journal construction in the future. Both sides also conducted in-depth exchanges on topics such as the situation in the Gulf, social issues in the Middle East, regional hotspot issues, and China-Middle East relations.