Building New Connections in Shanghai
22 September 2026

MENA2050 continues to expand its dialogue with partners and experts beyond the Middle East.
During his visit to Shanghai, our CEO Eli Bar-On met with Prof. Lu Gang of East China Normal University and Prof. Li Weijian of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies for an exchange of views on China and the wider region.
Their conversations covered China’s evolving engagement with the Middle East and North Africa, economic corridors and regional connectivity, as well as the potential for cooperation involving China, the United States, MENA countries, and Central Asia.
The meetings also opened a conversation about possible future cooperation between MENA2050 and Chinese academic institutions.

For MENA2050, these exchanges are an important part of building relationships across regions, bringing different perspectives into the conversation, and exploring practical opportunities for cooperation.
We look forward to continuing the dialogue.



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