On October 4, 2024, the Kazakhstan Field Station of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University, successfully held a symposium and academic roadshow on "Social Development and Sustainability in the Global South from a New Developmentalist Perspective " at KIMEP University, Kazakhstan. More than ten experts and scholars in the field of Central Asian studies and development theory from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries gathered to discuss the development issues in Central Asia and the global significance of the concept of "New Developmentalism". Representatives of the IIAS and KIMEP University management team, faculties, and students attended the event.
Group photo of Kazakhstan Field Station Symposium and Academic Roadshow Event
The symposium was chaired by Dr. Jing Shi, assistant professor of the IIAS. At the opening ceremony, Dr. Zheng Nan, assistant professor of the IIAS, delivered an opening speech, in which he first expressed a warm welcome to all the experts, scholars, and guests, and gave a comprehensive introduction to the history and purpose of the Kazakhstan Field Station. He pointed out that the establishment of the Kazakhstan Field Station not only marks a new stage of academic cooperation between the IIAS, Tsinghua University, and KIMEP University but also builds a platform for researchers from China and Eurasia to share academic resources and discuss regional issues together.
Opening Remarks by Dr. Nan Zheng
Dr. Chan Young Bang, president of KIMEP University in Kazakhstan, delivered a welcome speech and an opening address. Dr. Bang reviewed the history of cooperation between China and Kazakhstan in political, economic and cultural fields. Taking Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as examples, he pointed out that the development of these two countries is inextricably linked to China's experience, and that academic cooperation and cultural exchanges are also an indispensable part of China's relations with neighboring countries. Finally, Dr. Bang highly praised the unique role of the Kazakhstan Field Station of IIAS in promoting Central Asian studies.
Welcome speech by Dr. Chan Young Bang
During the keynote speeches, several scholars gave insightful presentations on the development of Central Asia and the global South from a new developmentalist perspective. The presentation of Gerald Pech, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, KIMEP University, analyzed the far-reaching impact of the "Belt and Road" initiative on the economic development of Central Asia, in particular the new opportunities brought by infrastructure construction and regional economic cooperation. Catherine Owen, Member of the Chair Professor Group of IIAS, Associate Professor at the University of Exeter, UK, focused her speech on the complex interaction between new developmentism and citizen participation in the global South. She explored citizen participation under the framework of new developmentism through case studies. Guo Jie, Member of the Academic Committee of IIAS and Associate Professor at the School of International Relations, Peking University, gave a speech entitled “Progress Reconsidered: From Quantitative Growth to Qualitative Well-being in Global Development”, in which she systematically analyzed the need for this shift and proposed specific measures to promote this transformation in the global South.
Dr. Jing Shi moderated the meeting
Keynote Speech by Associate Professor Gerard Peck
Keynote Speech by Associate Professor Guo Jie
Statement by Associate Professor Catherine Owen
In the second half of the discussion, Dr. Nygmet Ibadildin, Director of the Department of International Relations at KIMEP University, reviewed and analyzed the path of social, political and economic transformation of the five Central Asian countries since their independence in the 1990s, and analyzed the historical and practical factors behind the countries' choice of different development strategies. Professor Wang Yongzhong of the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences discussed the implications of China's reform and opening-up experience for the modernization process in the global South; Dr. Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Center for Infrastructure and Industrial Research of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), introduced the short- and medium-term trends in the development of infrastructure in the Eurasian region, especially the potential and challenges of cross-border cooperation projects; Professor Zhang Xiaotong, Director of the China and Central Asian Studies Center, KIMEP University, explored the economic development models of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan from the perspective of comparative political economy, as well as the challenges they each face in his speech.
Keynote Speech by Dr. Nigmet Ibadiruddin
Keynote Speech by Dr. Arman Akhumbayev
Keynote Speech by Prof. Wang Yongzhong
Keynote Speech by Prof. Zhang Xiaotong
At the end of the symposium, Professor Tim Niblock, Director of the Center for Global Issue Studies of IIAS, Tsinghua University, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Exeter, summarized and commented on the keynote speeches and discussions. He fully recognized the symposium's role in promoting Central Asian area studies. According to Prof. Niblock, the presentations of the participants outlined the diversity and complexity of the practice of new developmentalism in Central Asia and the Global South and expressed expectations about the potential of the Kazakhstan Field Station to strengthen area research and facilitate interaction between policymakers and academics in the future. Prof. Niblock noted that such a symposium not only provides valuable networking opportunities for researchers but also contributes new ideas and knowledge to development studies in the global South.
Conference summary by Prof. Tim Niblock
In a lively atmosphere of discussion, the Symposium and Academic Roadshow was successfully concluded.
The scene of the meeting
The Kazakhstan Field Station was established in March 2023 by IIAS, Tsinghua University in cooperation with KIMEP University, to facilitate scientific work for scholars of Eurasian studies in China, explore the path of area studies through fieldwork, and strengthen academic cooperation between Chinese and Eurasian scientific research institutions and researchers.
Group photo at the field station in Kazakhstan
