On April 16, 2018, SIIS President Chen Dongxiao met with the delegation led by Ali Sheikh Haidar, President of the National Syrian Social Party. The two sides had a discussion on Syria issue and situation in the Middle East. SIIS assistant president Ye Qing, Prof. Li Weijian, Prof. Jin Liangxiang and Liu Xin from the Centre for West Asia and African Studies also participated in the meeting.