By Gao Ziyu | Updated: 2025-04-14
On the morning of 12 April, Yanbian University officially inaugurated its new Institute of Borderland Studies (Vitalizing Border Areas and Enriching the People) and convened the 2025 Symposium on Border Governance and Vitalization. The opening ceremony took place on campus, with Hu Jiafu, member of the Standing Committee of Jilin Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture Party Committee, and Li Guoqiang, member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and deputy director of the Chinese Academy of History, in attendance. Du Rui, Party Secretary of Yanbian University and director of the newly established institute, delivered the welcome address. Speeches followed from Liu Huichun, Party Secretary of the Institute of Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Liu Xuejun, deputy director of the Education Department of Jilin Province and deputy secretary of the Provincial Education Working Committee; and Feng Qingzhong, director of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of Jilin Province and deputy director of the United Front Work Department of Jilin Province.
Hu Jiafu, Li Guoqiang, Feng Qingzhong and Du Rui then unveiled the institute’s plaque.
To thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important directives on enhancing and improving ethnic affairs, forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and strengthening border governance, Yanbian University has proactively consolidated talent resources, optimized organizational structures, and established the Institute of Borderland Studies (Vitalizing Border Areas and Enriching the People), with renowned experts recruited to form high-caliber research teams.The Academy will focus on six key areas: advancing the construction of a Chinese national community, education and demographic trends in frontier regions, rural revitalisation and specialty industries, cross‐border tourism and trade, border security and governance, and the frontier histories of Goguryeo and Balhae. The Research Institute is committed to producing a series of groundbreaking and landmark academic achievements. Its establishment will provide intellectual support for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation in ethnic border regions and promoting the modernization of border governance.
The ceremony was presided over by vice-president Liu Yan. Leaders of Yanbian Prefecture, Shi Qihua and Yin Zhaohui, along with heads of research institutions such as the Institute of Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Sociology Institute of the Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, as well as relevant officials and experts from universities including Jilin University, Guangxi University, Liaoning University, Minzu University of China, Harbin Engineering University, Northeast Agricultural University, and Jilin Agricultural University, attended the opening ceremony. Additionally, representatives from Yanbian University’s functional departments, colleges, research institutes, as well as faculty and student representatives were present.
The academic symposium convened in the Yuanrong Lecture Hall, featuring keynote presentations by Li Guoqiang, Professor Bing Zheng, former executive vice-president of Jilin University and director of the Northeast Revitalization Research Institute, Professor Sun Chunri of the new institute, Professor Li Guanghui, dean of Guangxi University’s School of Economics and its China Frontier Economic Research Institute, Professor Wang Xiaosong, assistant to the president of Yanbian University and professor of School of Economics of Renmin University of China, and Professor Guo Rui, vice-dean of Jilin University’s Institute of National Development and Security Studies. Topics ranged from “Striving for Progress: Accelerating the Development of China’s Independent Borderland Studies Knowledge System” to “Northeast Revitalization and Regional Culture” and “Unity in Diversity: Shared Historical Memories and Social Effects Among Ethnic Groups in Yanbian”. The session was jointly chaired by Professor Piao Cankui, honorary director of Institute of Borderland Studies of Yanbian University, and Professor Bing Zheng.
The seminar set up sub Forums in the conference room on the 4th floor of the administration building and the 2nd floor of the Qiuzhen Building. Experts and scholars from relevant fields engaged in group discussions and exchanges around the theme of “Frontier Governance and Prosperous Border Regions”, offering constructive opinions and suggestions.
First Review: Zhang Yufeng | Second Review: Du You | Final Review: Chen Yanling
Attending Leaders Unveil the Plaque for Yanbian University’s Institute of Borderland Studies (Vitalizing Border Areas and Enriching the People)
Party Secretary Du Rui of Yanbian University delivers welcome address
Speech by Liu Huichun, Party Secretary of the Institute of Borderland Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Speech by Liu Xuejun, deputy director of the Education Department of Jilin Province and deputy secretary of the Provincial Education Working Committee
Speech by Feng Qingzhong, director of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of Jilin Province and the deputy director of the United Front Work Department of Jilin Province
Vice President Liu Yan presided over the opening ceremony
Keynote report by Professor Li Guoqiang, member of the Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and deputy director of the Chinese Academy of History
Keynote report by Professor Bing Zheng, former executive vice-president of Jilin University and director of the Northeast Revitalization Research Institute
Keynote report by Professor Sun Chunri, Institute of Borderland Studies(Vitalizing Border Areas and Enriching the People)
Keynote report by Professor Li Guanghui, dean of Guangxi University’s School of Economics and its China Frontier Economic Research Institute
Keynote report by Professor Wang Xiaosong, assistant to the president of Yanbian University and professor of School of Economics of Renmin University of China
Keynote report by Professor Guo Rui, vice-dean of Jilin University’s Institute of National Development and Security Studies
Professor Piao Cankui, honorary dean of Institute of Borderland Studies of Yanbian University presided over the symposium
Photo by Chi Tao/Lou Zhixiang
