TRENDS at Beijing Book Fair 2026: Cultural Diplomacy Shaping a Global Knowledge Dialogue
The group presented an integrated model that balanced the rigor of research with the dynamism of cultural diplomacy.
TRENDS Group, through TRENDS Research & Advisory and TRENDS Global, demonstrated a prominent intellectual presence at the 32nd Beijing International Book Fair 2026 (BIBF). The group presented an integrated intellectual model that masterfully balanced the rigor of scientific and academic research with the dynamism of cultural diplomacy.
Represented by the TRENDS office in Beijing within the Emirati House pavilion — overseen by the UAE Ministry of Culture — the engagement celebrated the UAE’s selection as the exhibition’s Guest of Honor. This participation served as a strategic milestone through which TRENDS successfully built sustainable bridges of communication with leading Chinese academic and intellectual institutions, reinforcing its role as a pioneering research platform and a true partner in analyzing and guiding the trajectories of the global future.
A Knowledge Forum
The TRENDS pavilion within the Emirati House transformed into a hub for attracting high-level officials and diplomats. It was honored by the visit of Sheikha Rawda bint Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Emirati Children’s Parliament; His Excellency Dr. Omar Habtoor Al-Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Zakat; and His Excellency Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to China. Additionally, the ambassadors of Lebanon, Mauritania, Palestine, Pakistan, and Albania to China visited the pavilion. The ambassadors were briefed on the group’s latest knowledge outputs and specialized advisory services, praising TRENDS’ global research and intellectual efforts.
In tandem with this high turnout, the TRENDS pavilion presented more than 450 peer-reviewed research and academic publications to the fair’s audience and researchers. These publications covered various vital and strategic fields, contributing to the analysis of international shifts and the forecasting of their future courses.
Strategic Session
As part of the accompanying intellectual activities, TRENDS Global, in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Culture, organized a strategic panel discussion. The session emphasized that UAE-China relations represent an advanced model for successful international partnerships, thanks to their flexibility and high capacity to adapt to rapid geopolitical changes.
A Strategic Gateway
Senior Researcher Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Deputy Director-General of TRENDS Research & Advisory, presented a working paper highlighting the strength of the partnership between the two countries, as evidenced by the continuous growth in non-oil trade. He emphasized the UAE’s status as a pivotal strategic gateway for Chinese investments and companies into Middle Eastern and African markets.
Al-Shehhi noted that bilateral cooperation is increasingly focusing on future sectors such as the digital economy, advanced technology, clean energy, and artificial intelligence applications, thereby enhancing the resilience of both economies against disruptions in global supply chains.
For her part, Professor Chen Jing, an Associate Professor at Beijing Language and Culture University, stressed the pivotal role of think tanks in providing decision-makers with forward-looking studies and deep analytical insights, helping to direct investments toward the most sustainable and impactful sectors.
Sideline Activities
TRENDS’ participation was not limited to displaying books and engaging in intellectual discussions; it also included intensive academic and research activities that culminated in strategic meetings to build transcontinental partnerships.
The TRENDS delegation held a fruitful meeting with Peking University — one of the world’s most prestigious universities — to discuss prospects for academic cooperation in regional and international studies, Arab-Chinese relations, researcher exchange, and the organization of joint training programs, as well as current geopolitical issues.
Furthermore, during a joint dialogue session with the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, TRENDS explored ways to enhance cooperation on research projects, stimulate translation initiatives between Arabic and Chinese, and launch specialized training programs to support young researchers and elevate their intellectual capabilities.
In tandem with this high turnout, the TRENDS pavilion presented more than 450 peer-reviewed research and academic publications to the fair’s audience and researchers. These publications covered various vital and strategic fields, contributing to the analysis of international shifts and the forecasting of their future courses.
Strategic Session
As part of the accompanying intellectual activities, TRENDS Global, in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Culture, organized a strategic panel discussion. The session emphasized that UAE-China relations represent an advanced model for successful international partnerships, thanks to their flexibility and high capacity to adapt to rapid geopolitical changes.
A Strategic Gateway
Senior Researcher Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Deputy Director-General of TRENDS Research & Advisory, presented a working paper highlighting the strength of the partnership between the two countries, as evidenced by the continuous growth in non-oil trade. He emphasized the UAE’s status as a pivotal strategic gateway for Chinese investments and companies into Middle Eastern and African markets.
Al-Shehhi noted that bilateral cooperation is increasingly focusing on future sectors such as the digital economy, advanced technology, clean energy, and artificial intelligence applications, thereby enhancing the resilience of both economies against disruptions in global supply chains.
For her part, Professor Chen Jing, an Associate Professor at Beijing Language and Culture University, stressed the pivotal role of think tanks in providing decision-makers with forward-looking studies and deep analytical insights, helping to direct investments toward the most sustainable and impactful sectors.
Sideline Activities
TRENDS’ participation was not limited to displaying books and engaging in intellectual discussions; it also included intensive academic and research activities that culminated in strategic meetings to build transcontinental partnerships.
The TRENDS delegation held a fruitful meeting with Peking University — one of the world’s most prestigious universities — to discuss prospects for academic cooperation in regional and international studies, Arab-Chinese relations, researcher exchange, and the organization of joint training programs, as well as current geopolitical issues.
Furthermore, during a joint dialogue session with the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, TRENDS explored ways to enhance cooperation on research projects, stimulate translation initiatives between Arabic and Chinese, and launch specialized training programs to support young researchers and elevate their intellectual capabilities.
