From July 2 to 4, 2025, the 4th Tsinghua Area Studies Forum was held, hosted by the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University. With the theme of “Beyond Regions: Emerging Issues and New Visions for the Global South”, the forum brought together more than 200 scholars from over 40 countries to engage in in-depth discussions on the latest transformations, cooperation, and challenges in the Global South.
Guo Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee, and Jiang Jingkui, Director of the IIAS, delivered opening remarks at the ceremony.
Laura Hammond, Yasuyuki Kono, Bai Chong-en, Zhang Jing, Shen Zhihua, Guo Yong, Jiang Jingkui, and Tim Niblock attend the opening ceremony (front row, left to right).
In his address, Guo Yong emphasized that the global governance landscape is undergoing profound changes, with developing countries emerging as key forces. The importance of area studies is increasingly evident. He stated that Tsinghua University attaches great importance to the development of this field and looks forward to using the forum to explore cooperation and challenges with scholars from around the world, promoting the development of a shared knowledge community.
Jiang Jingkui delivering his address
On behalf of the IIAS, Jiang Jingkui welcomed the attending experts and scholars, shared progress of the institute’s development, highlighted new opportunities in area studies, and expressed the hope that participants would engage in deep exchanges to foster theoretical innovation and enhance China’s academic discourse.
Keynote speeches by Shen Zhihua, Bai Chong-en, Eugene Rogan, Yasuyuki Kono, Mariana Llanos, and Xiong Xinghan (from left to right, top to bottom)
The forum featured keynote speeches by renowned scholars who discussed topics such as China’s relationship with the Global South, the role of developing countries in global governance, water and food security, regional studies and South–South cooperation, and the crucial role of fieldwork in theoretical innovation and talent development.
This year’s forum included 23 panels under six key themes: Geopolitics and Domestic Politics, Economic Development, Social Governance, Historical Writing and Cultural Inheritance, Resource Governance and Cooperation, and International Migration and Inclusive Development. Scholars explored core topics such as geopolitical restructuring, economic transformation, green development, and migrant integration. They also addressed current hotspots such as the Belt and Road Initiative, global value chains, and the digital economy, using diverse case studies and comparative perspectives. Experts from academic and think tank institutions across five continents participated in the sessions, advancing cross-disciplinary and cross-regional dialogue with a global outlook and a spirit of knowledge-sharing, combining theoretical innovation with empirical research. During the forum, a special discussion session was held on the Tsinghua Area Studies Book Series, supported by several leading publishing houses.
Roundtable discussion
On the afternoon of July 4, selected scholars participated in a roundtable discussion on “New Issues and Visions of the Global South”. Participants agreed that diversified cooperation, innovation, and in-depth field research offer new hope for countries in the Global South to address complex challenges and promote the development of area studies.
Closing remarks by Laura Hammond, Saikhansanaa Khurelbaatar, and Wang Tingyi (from left to right)
At the closing ceremony, Professor Laura Hammond from SOAS University of London, Saikhansanaa Khurelbaatar from The State Great Hural (Parliament) Mongolia, and Wang Tingyi from Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy delivered speeches on regional cooperation, state relations, and the evolving global landscape.
Established in 2019, the Tsinghua Area Studies Forum has convened four successful editions to date, drawing participation from scholars worldwide and establishing as a significant academic platform in area studies. Previous forum themes included “Shared Challenges”, “Regions and the World”, and “Developing Countries in an Age of Uncertainty”. Upholding interdisciplinary integration and fieldwork, the forum promotes mutual learning between China and the Global South and contributes to building a community with a shared future for humankind.
