Social sciences are developing in countries such as China, India and Brazil.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

Yin Gang, a Middle East analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says China's overarching objective in the region is to maintain friendly ties with its four main groups: Arabs, Turks, Persians and Jews.

ECONOMIST: China and the Middle East: Walking between the raindrops | The

In China, the Social and Human Sciences budget has increased by 15 to 20% a year since 2003.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES