On September 10, the opening ceremony of the 2015 China-Arab States Expo was held in Yinchuan City. Chinese President XI Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the forum. Entitled "Promoting Silk Road Spirit and Deepening China-Arab Cooperation", this forum aims to promoting exchange and cooperation between China and Arab states and turning the friendship of both sides into tangible results.
As an important sub-forum of the 2015 China-Arab States Expo, the 3rd China-Arab States University Presidents Forum was held on September 12. The theme of this forum is intended to be "serving the construction of 'One Belt One Road' and building a new platform for China-Arab states innovation and cooperation". Presidents, experts and scholars from 36 domestic universities and 77 foreign universities across 28 countries gathered in Yinchuan and conducted in-depth discussions on future strategic cooperation, innovative cooperative modes and demonstration zone of cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Arab States.
LIN Huiqing (Vice Minister of Education), CAI Guoying (Member of Standing Committee of CPC Ningxia Committee, Director General of Publicity Department of CPC Ningxia Committee), Eltigani Mustafa Mohamed Salih (State Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Sudan), Jamila EL Mossalli (Minister Delegate of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Morocco), Zayani Khemais (Director General of Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia), Sultan Tawfiq Talab Abu-Orabi Al-Adwan (Consultant of the Association of Arab Universities), YUAN Jinlin, YAO Aixing and TIAN Chengjiang (senior officials from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region) were present at the forum.
Mr. CAO Guoyong, Chairman of the University Council of Beijing Jiaotong University, addressed the forum entitled "Strengthening Cooperative Education between China and Arab States and Serving the Construction of 'One Belt One Road' ". He pointed out that the ancient Silk Road has promoted the trade and exchange between China and Arab states and created the peak of cultural exchange. The joint construction of the present "One Belt One Road" initiative would also definitely create a new historical opportunity for the higher education development between China and Arab states. In recent years, supported by feature disciplines, Beijing Jiaotong University has carried out active exploration and practices for promoting the cross-border joint education. He also put forward several initiatives on promotion of the educational and cultural exchange between China and Arab states, which was fully affirmed by all the representatives.
During the forum, CAO Guoyong also met with Hussein Ibrahim Morsy, Counselor of the Embassy of Egypt in China and Dr. Kareema Abdel Kareem, Board Chairman of the Chinese University in Egypt, exchanging views on student joint education.
The China-Arab States University Presidents Forum was co-held by the Ministry of Education of China and the Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The first two forums have reached consensuses on joint talent cultivation, promotion of two-way mobility of teachers and students, signed cooperation agreements and adopted the "Yinchuan Declaration for University Presidents of China and the Arab States", which were fully affirmed by both sides.
Principals from the Office of General Administration and Office of International Affairs were also present at the forum.
