The Saudi Ministry of Culture has announced the selection of twenty research proposals under the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Relations Research Grant, launched as part of the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025.
The grant, developed in cooperation with the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center, supports rigorous academic studies exploring the cultural ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China, according to SPA.
According to the ministry, the scientific committee overseeing the program selected the final twenty proposals from among multiple submissions received from individual scholars and research groups from across the globe.
The selected researchers include seven from Saudi Arabia, seven from China, and six researchers from other international institutions, reflecting a diversity of perspectives and methodologies. The selected studies will be presented in academic symposiums to be held in Riyadh and Beijing, providing a platform for scholarly dialogue and exchange.
The chosen research proposals address five thematic areas outlined by the grant: history and cultural heritage, visual and performing arts, literature and translation, cultural economy and creative industries, and the role of digital platforms in contemporary cultural exchange. Collectively, the studies highlight the long-standing connections between Saudi Arabia and China while contributing new insights into evolving cultural interactions.
In parallel with the grant, the ministry is preparing a reciprocal research fellowship program to expand opportunities for knowledge exchange.
Through this initiative, Chinese scholars will be hosted at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, while Saudi scholars will participate in research activities at Beijing University. This exchange strengthens institutional partnerships and furthers academic collaboration between the two nations.
The Ministry of Culture launched the research grant to encourage the production of high-quality academic studies that enrich the field of Saudi-Chinese cultural relations and foster broader understanding. The initiative demonstrates the ministry’s commitment to advancing international cultural exchange and academic cooperation.
