The PKU-SISU Youth Forum on Silk Road Studies, co-hosted by Peking University and Shanghai International Studies University, and jointly organized by the Middle East Studies Center of PKU, the Institute of Arab Islamic Culture of PKU, Department of Arabic Language and Culture, School of Foreign Languages at PKU, the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies of SISU, Research Center of the Ministry of Education on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (SISU), the Editorial Department of "Journal of New Silk Road Studies", Publicity Department of the Taicang Municipal Committee, and Taicang Federation of Social Science Circles, was successfully held in Shanghai during May 21-23, 2021. Prof. Fu Zhiming, Deputy Dean of School of Foreign Languages at Peking University, Dr. Wu Bingbing, State of Qatar Chair Professor in Middle Eastern Studies at Peking University, and graduate students of the Department of Arabic Language and Culture, SFL-PKU, attended the forum.

The opening ceremony of the forum was held on the morning of May 22. Prof. Fu Zhiming highly appreciated the remarkable achievements made by the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies of SISU in think-tank exchange and talent cultivation, and expressed his hope that Peking University and the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies of SISU would establish closer ties and work together to achieve greater accomplishments. Dr. Wu Bingbing also extended his best wishes for the continued improvement and development of the bilateral friendship. Dr. Wu Bingbing chaired the first session that was focused on the BRI and the Middle East.

On the afternoon of May 22, the delegation of the Department of Arabic Language and Culture, SFL-PKU, and the teachers and students of the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies of SISU conducted a field visit to Taicang, where the starting port of Zheng He's voyages to the western oceans, Liujiagang is located. The delegation received a warm reception from relevant officials in Taicang. They visited the Planning Exhibition Hall and the Taicang Museum, exploring and experiencing the material and spiritual heritage of the Maritime Silk Road in Taicang.

In the afternoon session, representatives of Taicang Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Taicang Zheng He Research Association, and Taicang Museum expounded on the history of the Maritime Silk Road and Taicang’s role in the Maritime Silk Road. In his closing remarks, Prof. Fu Zhiming expressed his gratitude to the organizers in Taicang for this field trip and stated the significance of Silk Road studies.