As summer begins with roses in bloom, a new sail is raised on the ocean of learning; the pursuit of knowledge in regional and country studies gathers esteemed scholars at Suiyuan. On the morning of May 13, 2026, a high-level academic lecture was held in Conference Room 101 of the Audio-Visual Education Building at the Suiyuan Campus of Nanjing Normal University. The lecture was chaired by Professor Lin Minjie, Dean of Academy of International and Regional Studies at Nanjing Normal University, and featured Director Yang Jiemian, a senior expert in China's international studies field and Chairman of the Academic Advisory Committee of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, as the keynote speaker. Director Yang, former Party Secretary and President of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, also holds important positions such as a member of the Expert Committee of the National Research Center for Regional and Country Studies and a member of the Foreign Policy Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a renowned expert in global governance, major-power relations, and Chinese foreign policy.
The lecture unfolded layer by layer around the core theme of "Methods and Theories of Regional and Country Studies." Director Yang began by clearly stating that philosophy and social science scholars should consciously answer the "Questions of China, the World, the People, and the Times." As an emerging interdisciplinary field, regional and country studies is essentially the "study of major powers" and the "study of a strong nation." It must enhance its political stance and serve national strategy. He pointed out that this service is manifested at three levels: the primary task is to serve the core goal of comprehensively advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization; secondly, it must serve major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, creating a favorable international environment for national rejuvenation, including enhancing international communication capabilities; finally, it must be grounded in strengthening the discipline's own development, contributing to building China's strength in education. Regarding specific methods and pathways, he emphasized the extreme importance of solidifying foundational knowledge in economics, law, literature, history, and other core disciplines. He particularly noted that foreign languages are not merely tools but are key to understanding the thinking patterns and cultural logic of the target country. Drawing on his decades of research experience, Director Yang vividly explained the principle of "adhering to practice as the foundation." He asserted that regional and country studies is fundamentally a "study of reality" and a "study of practice." Researchers must conduct in-depth "fieldwork," which includes both physical field visits and the supplementary use of virtual means. He advised young scholars entering the field to follow the cognitive progression of "from domestic politics to foreign policy, from economy to politics, from one country to its neighbors, and from a region to the world," suggesting they start with the domestic issues of the target country before expanding to the international dimension.
Confronting the transformative changes brought by artificial intelligence, Director Yang candidly shared his observations and reflections. He reflected on the three research eras he has experienced—the "pen and paper," "computer," and "AI" eras—and encouraged young scholars to adapt to the trend, preparing to achieve a "triple jump" in the new technological wave. However, he also solemnly cautioned that regardless of technological advancement, the fundamental principle of "the human brain commanding the computer, preventing the computer from controlling the human brain" must always be upheld. He pointed out that the current application of AI in humanities and social sciences research has shortcomings, such as fostering laziness, being constrained by existing databases, and potentially encouraging a "fast-food" approach to thinking. Therefore, researchers must skillfully use AI without "discarding their own skills." They must deepen their own thinking, strengthen "human-machine dialogue," and guide AI to better serve philosophy and social science research. In the final part of the lecture, Director Yang elevated the discussion to the height of theoretical consciousness. He emphasized that regional and country studies with Chinese characteristics requires not only practice but also theoretical innovation. The Sinicized Marxism, including Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, serves as the fundamental guide, with the concept of a "Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" as its essence. The goal is to build a more just and reasonable global governance system, with implementation pathways including the "Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative." The construction of an autonomous theoretical system for regional and country studies with Chinese characteristics needs to be continuously advanced through the integration of such political and academic theories.
During the subsequent interactive Q&A session, the atmosphere was lively. Professor Gao Hao from the School of Journalism and Communication at Nanjing Normal University, drawing on his experience transitioning from Japanese language studies to communication research, raised questions about how to integrate and position international communication within regional and country studies. Director Yang provided incisive and pragmatic answers. He first deconstructed "telling China's story well" into three levels: first, China must have good stories; second, the stories themselves must be good; third, the stories must be well-told and able to engage the audience. Using his own speeches at international conferences as examples, he explained that effective communication must be based on in-depth research into the audience, identifying their points of interest and thresholds of acceptance. He further summarized his concept of "differentiated communication": discuss philosophy with thinkers, talk about interests with politicians, exchange knowledge with peers, and use the plainest language to convey reasoning to the general public. This vivid summary, born of rich practical experience, won deep recognition from the attending teachers and students. Professor Lin Minjie added that international communication, foreign language studies, and regional and country studies have a relationship of "you are in me, and I am in you," sharing the mission of facilitating communication between China and the world and enhancing mutual understanding.
This lecture was not only an imparting of professional knowledge but also a sharing filled with life wisdom and scholarly experience. With his profound erudition, broad international perspective, rich policy practice, and humorous, candid personal narrative, Director Yang explained the grand proposition of regional and country studies in a profound yet accessible and insightful manner. From the lofty sense of mission to serve national strategy to the concrete methods of solidifying language and disciplinary foundations; from the practice-oriented approach of in-depth fieldwork to the sober reflection on the "human-machine relationship" in the AI era; and finally, rising to the theoretical consciousness of constructing China's autonomous theoretical system, the entire lecture built a well-structured, logically rigorous methodological framework. The lecture concluded amidst warm applause. It charted a solid and promising academic path for the students of Nanjing Normal University, especially for the youth aspiring to engage in regional, country, and international studies in the future—a path that closely integrates personal growth with national development and the demands of the times. It also encouraged contemporary scholars to shoulder their historical responsibility precisely through such profound insight into the "changing landscape" and active shaping of the "overall pattern."
(Written by Wang Yangchenxi & Chen Zhilin)