On the afternoon of November 26, President Duan Peng met with Bahraini Ambassador to China Shaikho and his delegation at the university.
President Duan Peng extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Shaikho on behalf of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and introduced the university's history and distinctive features. He noted that over its 60 years, BLCU has trained nearly 300,000 international alumni from 189 countries and regions who are proficient in Chinese and knowledgeable about China, including over 80 foreign dignitaries at the deputy prime minister level or above, serving as a bridge for global cultural exchanges and China-Arab friendship.
President Duan expressed hope for further deepening educational cooperation with Bahrain and continuously promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries. Ambassador Shaikho expressed gratitude for President Duan Peng's warm reception and delight in witnessing the deepening of China-Bahrain friendly relations. He highly appreciated BLCU's positive contributions to promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries. Based on the increasingly close China-Bahrain relations and growing demand for cultural cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Ambassador Shaikho hoped to enhance educational exchanges with BLCU, such as regularly hosting ambassador lectures on Arabic grammar and cultural heritage, increasing student exchanges and short-term study visits, and donating rare Arabic books to facilitate cultural circulation. This would provide BLCU students with more opportunities to learn Arabic and understand Bahraini culture, injecting vitality into bilateral friendly relations.
President Duan Peng affirmed and supported Ambassador Shaikho's proposals, expressing respect for the ambassador's substantial efforts as a seasoned diplomat in education and mutual learning among civilizations. President Duan stated that BLCU is eager to establish cooperative relations with Bahraini universities and welcomes Bahraini students to study and visit BLCU and its Hainan International College. He also proposed setting up a Bahrain Cultural Corner in the university library or the Belt and Road Academy to help Chinese and international students better understand Bahraini language and culture. Furthermore, he invited Bahraini Sinologists to participate in the “World Sinology Forum” for academic exchanges, collaborate on the Mutual Translation Plan for Asian Classics for joint publication, and promote cultural connectivity. As the lead institution for the youth talent development component of the “China-Arab Universities 10+10 Cooperation Plan,” BLCU hopes to work with Bahrain to implement the plan, expand China-Arab cooperation and exchange platforms, conduct regional and country studies, and promote China-Arab cultural exchanges.
Attending the meeting were Dean Xu Baofeng of the Belt and Road Academy (Global South Academy), Dean of the School of Sinology and Chinese Studies and Director of the Center for World Sinology; Deputy Director (Presiding) Wu Yi of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange; Deputy Director Wang Dongling of the International Student Affairs Office; and Professor Lu Yingbo of the Middle East College.
(Edited by: Chen Siyu)
