In the context of the continuous development and deepening of the discipline of area and country studies, in order to further strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between the area and institutes of country studies across the country, and jointly discuss the main role and institutional development of the area and institutes of country studies in the discipline construction of area and country studies, as well as the latest development trends, challenges and coping strategies of area and country studies, the 5th “National Forum of Deans of Area and Country Studies Institutes” is scheduled to be held in Harbin Engineering University from July 13 to 15, 2025. The heads of area and country studies and relevant experts and scholars from universities across the country are now invited to participate in the conference and contribute to the development of area and country studies disciplines and talent training!

The forum is hosted by the Secretariat of Country and Area Studies of the Ministry of Education, the Alliance for the Talent Cultivation and Discipline Construction of Area and Country Studies in Universities, and Harbin Engineering University. It is undertaken by the Institute of Area and Country Studies of Harbin Engineering University, the School of Foreign Studies of Harbin Engineering University, and the Academic Exchange Base for Area and Country Studies and Northward Opening Strategy Research in Heilongjiang Province. It is co-organized by the Center for Area and Country Studies of School of Foreign Studies in Harbin Engineering University.

I. Forum topics

The theme of the forum is “Area and Country Studies Institutes as an Important Force for Promoting Interdisciplinary Integration and Innovative Development”, and the sub-topics include but are not limited to:

1. The role of area and country studies institutes in the construction of the discipline of area and country studies

2. Institutional construction and the development of area and country studies institutes

3. Resource support and the development of area and country studies institutes

4. International exchange and the development of area and country studies institutes

5. Artificial Intelligence and the development of area and country studies institutes

6. Typical cases of the construction of the area and country studies institutes

7. Other issues in area and country studies

II. Conference Agenda

III. Participation Requirements

1. Submission of Materials

Experts and scholars who intend to participate in the conference are required to send the “Participation Receipt” (Annex 1), the “Participation Receipt of the 5th National Forum of Deans of Area and Country Studies Institutes” to the conference mailbox (sfsc@hrbeu.edu.cn) before June 20 so as to arrange the forum agenda in advance.

2. Conference Liaison

Participating scholars must scan the registration first and then fill in the receipt, so as to facilitate follow-up contact and reception.

3. Payment instructions  

The conference fee for this forum is 1,000 RMB/person. Detailed instructions for payment can be found in Annex 2, “Guidelines for Online Payment of the 5th National Forum of Deans of Area and Country Studies Institutes”. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and accommodation costs, and meal expenses during the conference will be covered by the organizer.

IV. Transportation arrangements

Experts can arrive at Harbin Taiping International Airport by air and then transfer to the airport bus or take high-speed train to Harbin or Harbin West Railway Station or take a taxi. (The conference team will arrange vehicle pick-up and drop-off in due course)

V. Conference Receipt

1. Conference Telephone: 0451-82519595

2. Conference Contacts:

Guo Jiaming and Li Li

3. Academic contacts:

Li Jiaqi and Cheng Huishu

Organizers:

the Secretariat of Country and Area Studies of the Ministry of Education

the Alliance for the Talent Cultivation and Discipline Construction of Area and Country Studies in Universities

Harbin Engineering University

Undertakers:

the Institute of Area and Country Studies of Harbin Engineering University

School of Foreign Studies of Harbin Engineering University (seal)

the Academic Exchange Base for Area and Country Studies and Northward Opening Strategy Research in Heilongjiang Province