On the afternoon of December 26, President Duan Peng met with Tunisian Ambassador to China Adel Elarbi and his delegation at the university.
President Duan Peng extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Adel Elarbi on behalf of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and introduced the university's history and distinctive features. He noted that BLCU is the Chinese university hosting the largest number of Arab students and is committed to bridging global civilizations and fostering China-Arab friendship. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tunisia, President Duan expressed hope for further deepening educational cooperation with Tunisia, welcoming Tunisian students to study and visit BLCU and its Hainan International College, participate in language training, summer camps, and youth exchange activities; increasing scholarship support for international students to attract more outstanding global talent; inviting Tunisian Sinologists to attend the World Sinologists Conference for academic exchanges; promoting mutual translation of classic works to enhance cultural connectivity; and proposing the establishment of a Tunisia Book Corner in the university library to help Chinese and international students better understand Tunisian language and culture. Additionally, as the lead institution for the youth talent development component of the “China-Arab Universities 10+10 Cooperation Plan,” BLCU hopes to collaborate with Tunisia to implement the plan, partnering with top Tunisian universities to advance bilateral educational cooperation and expand China-Arab exchange platforms.
Ambassador Adel Elarbi expressed gratitude for President Duan's warm reception and emphasis, noting the deep and enduring friendship between China and Tunisia, with increasingly close relations, particularly in education. He praised BLCU's contributions to actively promoting educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries and endorsed President Duan's proposals. The ambassador expressed hope to continue promoting diversified cooperation, such as encouraging Tunisian students to study in China to learn knowledge and Chinese culture, deepening cultural mutual trust; regularly hosting diplomat lectures on Arabic language and Tunisian culture; mutually establishing cultural chairs to promote teacher exchanges and propagate both countries' languages and cultures, injecting vitality into bilateral friendly relations.
President Duan Peng affirmed and supported Ambassador Adel Elarbi's proposals, expressing respect for the ambassador's substantial efforts as a seasoned diplomat in education and mutual learning among civilizations, and committing to actively implementing the cooperation proposals to promote China-Arab cultural exchanges and enhance friendship between the peoples of China and Tunisia.
Relevant heads from BLCU's Faculty of Foreign Languages, Belt and Road Academy (Global South Academy), School of Sinology and Chinese Studies, Center for World Sinology, Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, and Middle East College participated in the meeting.
After the meeting, accompanied by Wu Yi, Ambassador Adel Elarbi engaged in a cordial discussion with representatives of Tunisian students studying at BLCU. The Tunisian students expressed their love for Chinese language and culture, thanking BLCU for providing a high-quality learning platform. They noted the campus's diverse and inclusive culture, strong faculty, and rich course content, laying a solid foundation for their future roles as bridges in China-Tunisia cultural exchanges and cooperation. Ambassador Adel Elarbi was deeply gratified and thanked BLCU for its meticulous care and guidance of Tunisian students. He encouraged the students to continue their efforts, fully utilizing BLCU's various learning and exchange platforms to achieve success and become ambassadors promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The Tunisian Embassy will actively implement the consensus reached with President Duan Peng, providing necessary assistance for more outstanding Tunisian students to study and live at BLCU.
(Edited by: Wang Wen, Lü Meining)
