China studies take root in Arab nations

When Rehab Mahmoud Ahmed Sobh chose Chinese as her major nearly 40 years ago, the Egyptian scholar did not think the decision would be a turning point in her life.

In an interview with Guancha Syndicate, Sobh, who is now the dean of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Cairo University, said that her decision in 1988 led her to a world of language study, travel, teaching, research, and cultural exchanges, "allowing me to build a bridge for Egypt and China to communicate and understand each other".

Compared with nearly four decades ago, when few people in Egypt knew about China and even fewer about its language, today not only university students but also a large number of young people from diverse backgrounds are increasingly expressing interest in China, especially after the Egyptian government included Chinese as an elective course in primary and secondary schools.

Meanwhile, China has grown tremendously into a global manufacturing giant. It has eliminated poverty, made impressive advances in science and technology, and plays an increasingly important role on the international stage.

Arab nations, determined to upgrade their development models, are looking East to better understand China. They are interested not only in China's governance and economic development models but also in the profound philosophy that sustains the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization, which is still thriving.

This thirst for knowledge about China, or China studies, has been gaining traction across Arab nations.

According to experts, as a connecting link between Asia and Africa, Arab nations are uniquely positioned to serve as a pivot, offering experience and inspiration for more Global South countries to gain a deeper understanding of China and study it more effectively to solve problems related to their own development.

Apart from Egypt, Saudi Arabia has also introduced Chinese language classes in over 100 public middle schools. Universities in the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and Morocco, among others, have set up Chinese language departments.

"This shift shows that the interest in understanding China is spreading from just the elite to a wider range of people in society," said Chen Di, a researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of China Studies.

She added that the interest in China has also evolved.

Initially, the focus was on specific experiences, such as free trade zones or industrial parks. Now, it is a deeper examination of China's development path and values. Chinese-style modernization is seen as a viable development model.

"The shift signifies a move from focusing on practical techniques to proactively exploring broader philosophical ideas," Chen said.

Thanks to efforts to translate and publish Chinese and Arabic classics, more classical and contemporary Chinese literature is entering Arab markets.

In the preface to the translation of Strategies of the Warring States, Egyptian Sinologist Mohsen Fergani from Ain Shams University in Cairo wrote, "Through the translation of ancient Chinese texts, we can grasp some fundamental characteristics of Chinese culture and understand its developmental trajectory. Perhaps translation can explore the secrets behind these texts, with the hope that this can unleash our ability to learn from others, continuously enhancing this awareness and extending the path of human reason. In my view, the value of any ancient heritage lies in its ability to illuminate the present."

Another source of information about China for people in the Arab world is popular contemporary Chinese films like the recent Once Upon a Time in the Middle East, TV series such as Empresses in the Palace, and older kung fu movies.

Additionally, more people from China and the Arab world are getting to know and understand each other better through travel facilitated by visa-free policies, Chen said.