Fan Hongda

Professor, Middle East Studies Institute, Shanghai International Studies University

Fan Hongda is a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, China. He is mainly engaged in the study of Middle Eastern politics and international relations and has published four monographs and various academic articles. Since 2010, he has continued to conduct in-depth studies in Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi bump elbows during the signing ceremony of a 25-year cooperation agreement, in Tehran, Iran, 27 March 2021. (Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters)
Politics

Chinese academic: China-Iran deal will benefit China, Iran and Middle Eastern countries in the long run

By Fan Hongda 20 Apr 2021
A 25-year cooperation agreement was signed recently between China and Iran. The West and countries in the Middle East are alarmed by what closer China-Iran ties could mean for their interests, while the Iranians and the Chinese have different reactions to the news. Fan Hongda weighs the pros and cons of the agreement and what it means for all its stakeholders.
Protesters hold coffins displaying a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (right) during a demonstration in New Delhi on 3 March 2021, to protest against the military coup in Myanmar. (Prakash Singh/AFP)
Politics

Why the Chinese are confused by ‘ungrateful’ anti-China sentiments in Myanmar

By Fan Hongda 30 Mar 2021
Chinese academic Fan Hongda notes that mutual benefit is the real driver of bilateral relations, and expecting “gratitude” for maintaining ties is not the way to go. China would do well to rethink its mindset in international relations and the role it plays in the world.