On the morning of May 12, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, and his delegation visited Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). The visit was organized by the International Department of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. Yu Wei, Deputy Director of the Third Bureau of the International Department of Central Committee of CPC, accompanied the delegation. SISU President Li Yansong welcomed the guests at the Dome Conference Room on Songjiang Campus.
Li introduced our history, Multilingual+ initiative, discipline layout, and vision to the guests. He emphasized the longstanding friendship between China and Iran. Thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative, the cooperation between the two countries has strengthened the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership. The visit of the Iranian President Raisi to China in this February also promoted the close relations between the two countries. SISU boasts a group of outstanding scholars engaged in international relations and area studies, an excellent Middle East research team, and a first-class Persian language major. SISU has also established partnerships with several Iranian universities. Li expressed the hope that through discussions and interactions, SISU and Iranian higher education institutions and think tanks could strengthen educational and academic cooperation to deepen mutual understanding and friendship, and promote mutual benefits of both sides.
Zolghadr expressed gratitude for the warm reception of SISU. He stated that one of the main responsibilities of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran is to provide advice on major policies and strategic planning for the supreme leader. Iran greatly appreciated President Xi Jinping's Global Development Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Security Initiative, believing that the implementation of these initiatives would promote common development. In recent years, China has made tremendous achievements on its unique path to modernization. The major purpose of the delegation's visit to China is to learn from China's experience in economic and social development and its concept of modernization, as well as to promote exchanges and mutual learning in governance.
Professor Guo Shuyong from the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Professor Wang Guangda, Executive Director of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, Professor Fan Hongda from the Middle East Studies Institute, and Professor Cheng Tong, Dean of the School of Asian and African Studies, spoke on topics of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Diplomacy, The Chinese Path to Modernization, Middle East Policies, and Construction of the Persian Language Major at SISU respectively. The delegation had lively and in-depth exchanges with scholars from SISU on these relevant topics.
After the discussion, Zolghadr said that he would promote to exchanges and cooperation between SISU and Iranian universities and research institutions through the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran. He also expressed anticipation for an increasing number of Chinese students studying Persian.
During the event, second-year students majoring in Persian language from SISU recited the Persian poetry Norooz for the guests.
Wang Zhenzhen, Deputy Director of the Party Guest Department of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, Mao Xiaohong, Executive Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange at SISU, and young scholars from relevant faculties participated in the event.
