The 7th China–Arab States Broadcasting and Television Cooperation Forum opened in Chongqing on November 5, bringing together nearly 300 representatives from China and 16 Arab countries to deepen collaboration in broadcasting, audiovisual content, and cultural exchange. Yuan Jiajun, Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, attended the event and declared the forum open, while Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, delivered a video address.

Five faculty members and seventy-six students from the School of Oriental Languages and Cultures at Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) volunteered as translators and event assistants, providing interpretation and logistical support to participants throughout the forum. Their professionalism and warm service ensured the event’s smooth operation and earned high praise from organizers and guests alike.

Jointly established by China and Arab states, the China–Arab States Broadcasting and Television Cooperation Forum serves as a key platform for media collaboration under the China–Arab States Cooperation Forum framework. This year’s event was co-hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, the League of Arab States Secretariat, and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU).

At the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by Cao Shumin, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the NRTA; Hu Henghua, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Chongqing; and Abdullah Ahmed Suleiman, Secretary-General of the ASBU. Distinguished guests included Ahmed Khattabi, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; Khaled Abdel Aziz, Chair of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation; Ahmed Assaf, Director-General of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation; and Mohamed Abdellahi Lebib, President of the Mauritanian High Authority for Press and Audiovisual.

Held under the theme “Mutual Learning Between Civilizations, Innovation and Shared Growth in Audiovisual Cooperation,” the forum explored new avenues for collaboration in broadcasting policy, content creation, technology, and talent development between China and the Arab world.

SISU’s Arabic faculty and students, known for their strong linguistic foundation and cross-cultural communication skills, played an essential role in facilitating dialogue and supporting event operations. Their contribution was widely recognized by attendees. Mohamed Abdellahi Lebib, President of the Mauritanian High Authority for Press and Audiovisual, remarked: “What truly amazed me was seeing so many young Chinese people speak fluent Arabic. Their presence made us feel at home. Their warm welcome, generous hospitality, and eloquent conversations in Arabic made us forget we were in a foreign country.”

Established in 2006, SISU’s Arabic program has become a leader of Arabic language education in Southwest China. Recognized as a Chongqing First-Class Undergraduate Program in 2019 and a National First-Class Undergraduate Program in 2021, it remains the only program in the region offering a complete Arabic language education system from undergraduate to doctoral levels, cultivating graduates who serve as cultural ambassadors between China and the Arab world.

SISU volunteers help foreign guests at the forum

Group photo of some volunteers