The Center for Jordanian Studies at Northwest Polytechnic University of China: A Bridge for Arab-Chinese Cooperation

Dr. Hasan Abdullah Al-Dajah
The world has recently witnessed a remarkable growth in academic and cultural exchange between Arab countries and China, as many initiatives have emerged that seek to enhance mutual understanding between the two civilizations and consolidate academic and research cooperation.
In this context, the opening of the Center for Jordanian Studies at Northwest Polytechnic University in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, northwest China, on September 9, 2023, came to constitute one of the most important of these scientific and cultural initiatives.
Goals and Aspirations: The Center for Jordanian Studies aims to build a specialized research and educational base that focuses on regional studies on Jordan and Arab countries, especially in the West Asia region. This center came to be an academic and research platform that aims to prepare qualified cadres who contribute to a deeper understanding of the issues of Jordan and the region, allowing researchers from both sides to learn about common challenges and opportunities. This center is a major step towards strengthening scientific and cultural ties between the Arab world and China, as it encourages research and academic exchange in various fields, including cultural, economic, social, and political studies.
It is worth noting that Northwest Polytechnic University enjoys a high scientific reputation in China, as it is considered one of the advanced universities in the scientific, technological, and engineering fields, which provides the center with an advanced and integrated academic environment that helps drive scientific research towards excellence. Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, was chosen to be the headquarters of the center due to its rich cultural history, and because it is one of the cities that witnessed civilizational interactions throughout the ages, and it was an important station on the ancient Silk Road that linked the East and the West.
The Center’s Roles and Academic Programs: The center is based on several basic roles that it seeks to achieve through its academic and research programs. Among its most important roles are:

1. Conducting specialized research: The center seeks to conduct in-depth studies on Jordan and other Arab countries, including topics such as political relations, economics, social and cultural development, in addition to analyzing current regional issues and future challenges.
2. Training research cadres: By providing specialized training programs, the center aims to prepare a generation of specialized researchers capable of contributing to understanding the Arab region from a global perspective. These programs contribute to enhancing the research and academic skills of Chinese and Arab students alike, which contributes to building bridges of cooperation and understanding.
3. Providing strategic consultations and studies: The center also seeks to provide consultations to governmental and private entities in China and Jordan on issues of economic and political cooperation, including trade, investment, and foreign policies, enabling these entities to make decisions based on accurate studies and reliable information.
4. Encouraging cultural exchange: The center seeks to organize cultural and academic events that enhance mutual understanding between Arab and Chinese civilizations. These events include workshops, lectures, and cultural exhibitions, in which ideas and visions are exchanged on common values and means of cooperation.
   Arab-Chinese Cooperation: Broader Horizons through the Center: With the increasing importance of Arab-Chinese cooperation at the economic and political levels, this center comes to contribute to supporting this cooperation by providing a research platform that allows studying current issues of interest to both parties. The center can play an important role in understanding global political and economic changes, and their impact on relations between Arab countries and China. It also seeks to contribute to the Chinese “Belt and Road” vision, which aims to revive ancient trade routes, including the Silk Road, and make the Arab region and China part of this renewed vision of global economic cooperation.
   Enhancing research in the field of energy and sustainability: Arab-Chinese cooperation includes vital fields, including energy and sustainability, considering the environmental challenges facing the region and the entire world. The center seeks to direct part of its research towards studying cooperation in the field of renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and advanced technology, as Arab countries have large energy resources, while China is a leading country in the fields of advanced and sustainable technology. This cooperation represents an opportunity to build partnerships that contribute to providing practical and effective solutions to energy and environmental problems.
   Promising Future for Arab-Chinese Cooperation: The opening of the Jordan Studies Center at Northwestern Polytechnical University is an important step towards enhancing Arab-Chinese cooperation in the fields of science, culture and research. The center seeks to build bridges of understanding between the two peoples, enhance China’s understanding of the Arab world and its issues, and open up new horizons for academic and cultural cooperation between the two countries. It also represents a model for how to exploit academic capabilities to enhance international relations and achieve common interests.
   Finally, with the increasing importance of academic cooperation in shaping the future, it is hoped that the Jordan Studies Center will contribute to achieving a deeper understanding between Arab and Chinese civilizations and serve as a platform for innovation and sustainable cooperation between China and the Arab world.