Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics recently hosted the 8th seminar on central Asia economic and social development, bringing together experts and scholars from China and abroad to exchange insights on regional cooperation and research.

More than 60 participants from political, business, and academic circles took part in the discussions, including representatives from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and domestic institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing Language and Culture University, East China Normal University, and Northwest University. Over 200 teachers and students attended the event in person.

During the opening session, Guo Huawei, former secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Zhejiang Federation of Social Sciences, emphasized the federation's long-standing commitment to advancing area studies. He noted that preparations are underway to establish the Zhejiang Area Studies Association, which will integrate research resources across the province, promote collaborative innovation, and cultivate a strong academic network.

Guo encouraged participants to focus on real-world issues, strengthen international and inter-university cooperation, and pursue interdisciplinary research that supports high-quality cooperation and development between China and Central Asia.

In the plenary reports, Chinese and foreign scholars delivered presentations from multiple disciplinary perspectives, addressing topics such as foreign-related legal services under the Belt and Road Initiative, digital governance and non-traditional security in Central Asia, and experiences in regional and national cultural exchange. The reports offered new ideas and approaches for developing area studies as an academic discipline.

After a full day of discussions, participants deepened their understanding of the current trends in area studies and outlined future directions for China–Central Asia research. They agreed that cooperation holds broad potential and that area studies should continue to draw on contributions from government, industry, and academia to strengthen the link between theory and practice and advance research with Chinese characteristics.