On May 22-23, 2017, SIIS held the third annual seminar on the Middle East at Strategic Crossroads: the Change of Regional Order and the Belt and Road Initiative.

SIIS President Chen Dongxiao and Prof. Wang Zhen, Vice President of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) gave opening remarks. Counselor Cui Wei from the Department of West Asia and North Africa of China’s Foreign Ministry delivered a keynote speech at the seminar.

Chinese scholars and experts from major think tanks, together with their colleagues from Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Morocco participated in the discussion on the change of regional order, the Belt and Road in the Middle East and China’s role in the Middle East etc. The seminar was hosted by SIIS and co-sponsored by the Center for Belt and Road Initiative of SASS.