Scenarios for the Development of China Studies in Saudi Arabia in Correspondence With Contemporary Saudi Values

Abstract

Abstract The Saudi decision to incorporate Chinese language into its national education system has been a catalyst for the potential development of China studies in Saudi Arabia. After giving a quick review on Saudi Arabia’s previous experiences related to foreign language teaching and Western studies and also the origins and the early germination of China Studies that have appeared during the past decades, the article finds a series of contemporary values of dialogue that Saudi Arabia has tried to interpret and disseminate in its nation-building progress especially since the new millennium, which forms a benign interactive relationship with the possible development of the Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) program, which should be regarded as a tool of China studies, together they become new elements worthy of attention in the modernisation process with Saudi characteristics. By bringing forward several potential scenarios for the future development of the new elements mentioned above, the article concludes with the idea that the future existence of China Studies in Saudi Arabia will contribute to the sustainable and in-depth development of Sino-Saudi relations, while a new type of ‘social norm’ is to be formed gradually through the operating Saudi transformation, under which the Saudi people will more likely be focussed on their commonalities and diversities with Eastern societies and civilisations, so as to seek deeper mutual understandings through inter-cultural communications.