The International Forum on Arab Studies 2026 was held in Beijing on Sept 12. Hosted by Beijing International Studies University (BISU), the forum brought together nearly 200 representatives from government authorities, universities, research institutes and enterprises at home and abroad.

During the forum, participants held in-depth discussions on a range of issues, including the reshaping of the regional order in the Middle East, as well as China-Arab cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation.

About 200 representatives from government authorities, universities, research institutes and enterprises at home and abroad attend the forum.

Noting that 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt, as well as the 70th anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between China and the Arab states, Li Biyou, secretary of the CPC BISU Committee, said that BISU has long taken serving China's foreign affairs and people-to-people and cultural exchanges as its mission.

He stressed that the university will continue to build up the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center, deepen Middle East and Arab studies, and produce more high-quality research outcomes on Arab affairs.

Li Biyou delivers a speech at the forum.

In the keynote session, participants analyze topics ranging from China-Egypt intellectual and cultural exchanges under new circumstances, China-Arab cooperation and inter-civilizational dialogue from a Global South perspective, and Eastern-Western cultural encounters, to the digital and intelligent transformation of cultural heritage. These discussions offered fresh perspectives for deepening Arab area studies and advancing China-Arab cultural and tourism cooperation.

The forum also released the "2025 China-Arab Culture and Tourism Index", jointly compiled by BISU's School of Tourism Sciences and the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center.

In the sub-forums, more than 60 experts and scholars discussed regional order, cultural and tourism cooperation, innovation in research paradigms and youth studies.

Held 15 times so far, the forum has grown into a landmark platform for China-Arab intellectual dialogue and academic innovation, providing new ideas for deepening Arab area studies and injecting momentum into China-Arab cultural and tourism cooperation.