On the morning of April 16, 2026, a delegation led by Yang Zhengquan, President of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, visited IIAS for discussions on academic research, policy advisory work, and journal development.

Jiang Jingkui, Dean of IIAS, extended a warm welcome to the delegation and introduced the Institute’s disciplinary positioning, key development priorities, policy advisory work, and faculty development.

Yang Zhengquan presented an overview of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, highlighting its key initiatives in building research platforms and international cooperation mechanisms in South Asian and Southeast Asian studies, as well as its achievements in policy advisory services.

Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on national strategic priorities, including research on South and Southeast Asia and contributions to the building of a community with a shared future with neighbouring regions. They also exchanged views on strengthening academic collaboration, jointly developing academic journals, and enhancing think tank services, and reached preliminary consensus on future directions for cooperation.

The visiting delegation also included Ping Jinliang, Director of the Research Office; Du Xuefei, Director of the Editorial Office of Yunnan Social Sciences; Li Li, Director of the Editorial Office of South Asian and Southeast Asian Studies; and Ma Yun, Deputy Director of the General Office. Participants from Tsinghua included Jia Yan, Executive Director of the India Studies Center of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures; Li Yuqing, Deputy Director of the Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies at IIAS; and Wang Shujian, Assistant Dean of IIAS.