Peking University, March 21, 2025: A PKU delegation comprising 26 students and faculty members visited Kuwait and Egypt during winter break, where they toured local transportation infrastructure, universities, and operations of Chinese companies, as an effort under the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) to broaden students’ horizons and enhance their understanding of Middle Eastern culture.

Picture of the delegation

Affectionately dubbed CAMEL-LINK, the PKU delegation visited Chinese embassies in both Kuwait and Egypt and met with Sheikh Mubarak A.M. Al-Sabah and Princess Al Anoud Al-Sabah, members of the Kuwait royal family. Through conversations with diplomats, royal family members and industry representatives, the students gained a deeper understanding of bilateral relations between China and the two Middle Eastern Countries, which laid a solid foundation for further exchanges and cooperation.

The delegation at the Chinese Embassy in Kuwait

The delegation also visited over a dozen local branches of Chinese enterprises including ICBC, China Oilfield Services Limited(COSL), Huawei, etc., where the students gained valuable insights into efforts of these companies to explore overseas market under the BRI framework, bridge cultural differences, and achieve sustainable development, affording them inspirations for future research and fieldwork.

Sheikh Mubarak A.M. Al-Sabah hosting the delegation at his royal residence

In academic exchanges with prominent local universities and think tanks including Kuwait University, Cairo University, Torous Center for Consulting, etc., the PKU delegation discussed with specialists over hotspot political and economic topics. The Kuwaiti students acknowledged the importance of cooperation with China in Kuwait’s economic reform and exchanged opinions with their Chinese counterparts on future educational cooperations, significantly contributing to the bond of affinity between Chinese and Kuwaiti people.

The delegation visiting the pyramids

Marking its 10th anniversary, CAMEL-LINK is currently PKU’s only student exchange program targeting Middle Eastern areas, with a view to fostering a youth community of future enterprise leaders with robust enthusiasm in Middle Eastern culture, a daring world view, and innovative thinking.

Written by: Zhang Yiyi
Edited by: Phoon Hui Yin, Andrena, Chen Shizhuo
Source: PKU News (Chinese)