The Institute of Area Studies, Peking University (PKUIAS) is a comprehensive academic platform for area studies that has as its main tasks the cultivation of talent, the conducting of academic research, serving as a think tank, and the hosting of international academic exchanges. Relying on the research bases at PKU, PKUIAS mobilizes the university’s diversified academic strengths and long-existing networks at home and abroad. It integrates and revitalizes relevant academic teams and resources that are scattered in different faculties, and inspires the enthusiasm and initiative of their teachers and students, to construct a more rational, comprehensive, multi-leveled and coordinated interdisciplinary subject composition within the university. By strengthening research ability and exploring the interaction of different subjects, PKUIAS will not only meet the demands of the country but also foster a new type of academic talent.

Area studies is an interdisciplinary study of geography, culture, economics, politics, society, folk customs, organizations, institutions and other human activities in different countries and regions. It conducts comprehensive studies on humanities and social knowledge as well as economic and technological developments of the world, one's home country included, aiming to construct a comprehensive knowledge system to serve the people at home and across the world. Adhering to fundamental research-based academic orientation, PKUIAS will conduct both fundamental and prospective studies on key countries and regions as well as major issues in the world. We are working assiduously to establish an integrated, problem-oriented, and professional discipline with a research paradigm with Chinese characteristics and PKU's distinctiveness, so as to contribute to area studies in China and promote international academic exchanges and progress in the world.

The functions of the PKUIAS are as follows:

I Academic Research. Organizing various kinds of academic activities, aiming at professional, in-depth and creative academic achievements, and contributing academic insights to society.

II Academic Management. Coordinating and supervising the academic work of the many centers involved in area studies throughout the university, helping area studies thrive and revitalizing the academic resources available to area studies at Peking University.

III Talent Cultivation. Exploring new curriculum systems and teaching models to satisfy the requirements of area studies, training a new type of student who possesses the capacity for fresh thoughts and competence for practical work.

IV Think Tank. Providing policy proposals for major issues and solutions for theoretical and practical problems with the support of the university’s research and teaching sources.

V Academic Exchanges. Expanding academic networks both at home and abroad, absorbing advanced cultural achievements from the world at large, and disseminating Chinese knowledge and Chinese programs.

PKUIAS will cooperate with both domestic and foreign academic institutions and learn from them, and will be sincere and appreciative of the help and assistance that it can obtain from its academic peers.