"Research for Practical Use: A Seminar on University Think Tanks Function in Area Studies" was held in the Science Lecture Hall of Zhongguanyuan Global Village, PKU from October 24 to 25, 2020. The seminar was hosted by the Institute of Area Studies, Peking University (PKUIAS), with Qiu Shuiping, the secretary of the Party Committee of Peking University, making a speech. Nearly 50 heads, experts, and scholars from the Ministry of Education, Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and 17 domestic universities were invited.

Qiu Shuiping said that Peking University attaches great importance to the development of area studies think tanks. In the school's "Double First-Class" construction plan, area studies and advanced interdisciplinary studies are two key strategic areas deployed at the school level. In order to further improve the quality of the work of think tanks in universities, upgrade them, and clarify the relationship between area studies and the development of new think tanks, PKUIAS held this special seminar, during which experts had an opportunity to discuss the following issues in depth: the fundamental and unique role of area studies in the development of university think tanks; the field's role in promoting the transformation of research results of academic research institutions and its ability to effectively meet the policy needs of government departments; innovative ways and scientific paths for the development of new university think tanks with Chinese characteristics; and promoting the area studies discipline system and developing a national decision-making support system with Chinese characteristics to a higher level.

In recent years, the Ministry of Education has vigorously promoted area studies in universities and established 437 area studies cultivation bases and centers in universities across the country, said Liu Jin, the director of Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges from the Ministry of Education. According to the latest evaluation results, the current area studies cultivation work in universities has generally completed its phased goals. Research strength has gradually grown, research capacity has been continuously improved, research management has become increasingly standardized, and research influence has gradually expanded. In recent years, Peking University, with a great history and a solid foundation in area studies, has made great achievements in promoting area studies and developing high-level new think tanks. It has played a demonstrative and leading role in improving the quality and efficiency of area studies. Today, everyone gathers here to focus on the theme of "research for practical use," and further think, study, and explore the work related to area studies on the basis of the previous work, which is important for promoting the high-quality development of this work.

In the "round table meeting" session, Cheng Yonghua, Li Jinzhang, Shi Mingde, Wang Qinfeng and many other members of strategic advisory committee of PKUIAS discussed in depth on the theme of "the needs of big powers, the opportunity of the times" and explored the path and method of "research for practical use" in university area studies. The participants expressed their opinions on the three major topics, and put forward related problems and solutions. These topics were the goals and methods of the work of area studies think tanks in universities, problems and solutions of the work of area studies think tanks in universities, and evaluation systems for the work of area studies think tanks in universities.