Author: Fu Yuheng 

Publisher: School of International Studies/Academy of Overseas Chinese Studies

Date: December 2, 2024

On November 23, 2024, Jinan University held the Forum of Regional and National Studies Academic Journals Community and an academic conference titled Promoting Regional and National Studies in China in the New Era: Collaboration between the Journal and Academic Communities. The event took place in the International Conference Hall of the Zeng Xianzi Science Museum at the Shipai Campus and was jointly organized by the School of International Relations/Overseas Chinese Research Institute and the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies.

The forum attracted nearly 30 authoritative journal editors and chief editors from prominent publications such as Chinese Social Sciences, International Security Studies, and Contemporary Asia Pacific. Additionally, over 40 experts and scholars from major universities, including Peking University, Tianjin University, Sun Yat-sen University, Fudan University, Xiamen University, and the China Institute of International Studies, participated, focusing on regional and country studies. Ju Hailong, Dean of the School of International Relations/Institute of Overseas Chinese Studies at Jinan University and President of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, chaired the opening ceremony.

(Zhang was delivering a speech.)

In his welcome address, Professor Zhang Xiaoxin, Vice President of Jinan University, highlighted the current global turbulence and the significant role of China and other global southern countries. He emphasized the necessity of a robust regional and national knowledge system for understanding global development trends and stressed that academic journals are vital for advocating this knowledge. Zhang outlined Jinan University's key initiatives to enhance regional and national studies, including the establishment of a dedicated institute and a focus on critical research areas such as overseas Chinese studies, Southeast Asian studies, and the South China Sea's governance and security.

(At the forum)

The forum featured guest speeches from notable figures, including Tan Xiuying, editor-in-chief of International Security Studies, who discussed the impact of regional academic journals on disciplinary construction. Professor Zhai Kun from Peking University provided insights into the current landscape of China's regional country studies journals and offered suggestions for their development. Wang Zhan, a distinguished professor at Tianjin University, reviewed the evolution of regional disciplines in China, while Chen Jie, Dean of the Institute of Regional Studies at Sun Yat-sen University, emphasized the importance of linking academia with the journal industry to build a cohesive knowledge system.

(Group Photo to Celebrate the Occasion)

The afternoon sessions included two roundtable discussions on various themes, such as the theory and methods of regional country studies and the challenges facing these studies today. Experts and journal editors exchanged insights on the latest research findings and best practices in publishing.

The forum received strong support from Jinan University's Social Sciences Department and other relevant departments, with participation from faculty and students across multiple disciplines, including the School of Chinese Language and Literature, the School of Journalism and Communication, and the School of Marxism. This collaborative effort aims to enhance the quality and impact of regional and national studies in China, fostering a more integrated academic community.