Chongqing - On March 8^th, 2022 Scientific Research Conference of Sichuan International Studies University commenced. At the conference, two new research Academies, namely the Academies for Contemporary China Studies and the Academy of International and Regional Studies, were unveiled at Sichuan International Studies University.

The campus of Sichuan International Studies University (photo/SISU)

Against the backdrop of Chongqing’s engagement in building the West China International Communication Center, the Academy for Contemporary China Studies is founded to explore regional international communication practices to comprehensively improve the capability of universities and boost national and local economic development. It will focus on studying fields like contemporary Chinese socialism, international communication, global governance, and so forth.

Under the Academy for Contemporary China Studies comes the Center for Socialist Theory with Chinese Characteristics Studies, the Center for Contemporary Chinese Discourse Studies, the Center for International Communication Studies, and Multilingual Communication and Translation Studies Center. The Academy plans to carry out talents cultivation, scientific studies, social service, and cultural inheritance and innovation in fields such as key languages of the Belt and Road Initiative, top international communication talents cultivation, multilingual academic translation, courses for contemporary China studies.

According to the introduction of the executive dean of the Academy, Zhu Shisong, the establishment of the Academy for Contemporary China Studies will contribute to building the international discourse systems for the country, the city as well as the school, boosting the capability of regional international communication as well as the construction of internationalized colleges and universities with new liberal art features.

Meanwhile, the newly established Academy of International and Regional Studies is upgraded from the original Academy of Chongqing International Strategy Studies. According to the introduction of the executive dean of the Academy, Chen Guangmeng, so far there have been five scientific research institutes, including the Center of Germany Studies, the Center of BRICs Studies, and the Center of Israel Studies, on the record of the National Ministry of Education, the Center of International and Regional Economy and Business Studies at the provincial level, as well as the Center of Canada Studies. More centers might be set up to meet future needs.

With an aim to build the knowledge system to cover all-around international issues and serve the whole world, the international and regional studies programs cover comprehensive studies in politics, economy, culture, diplomacy, society, education, and the military of every country region. It encompasses disciplines like politics, economics, history, international relation, and foreign languages and literature. Giving play to the multilingual advantage of the SISU, the Academy of International and Regional Studies will conduct specialized and forward studies involving important countries and regions. It strives to be the top think tank based in the universities to study international issues.