Lanzhou University takes the lead in “China-Central Asia-West Asia” sub-network under the Silk Road Think Tank Association, and also serves as the secretary-general unit of University Alliance of Belt and Road. The former “Research Center for Silk Road Economic Belt of Lanzhou University” was renamed “Research Center for the Belt and Road of Lanzhou University” on July 5, 2017, aiming to promote the multi-disciplinary research on the “Belt and Road” (B&R) Initiative in an all-round way, advance the development of high-level and internationally-oriented disciplines, especially philosophy and social sciences, and strive to create a new-type think tank with Chinese characteristics. Now, as an independent research center, meanwhile, the Center, with 15 full-time researchers’ posts available, is responsible for collaborating with relevant research institutions of LZU concerning “Belt and Road” researches. The director of the Center is Professor Sha Yongzhong, vice president of Lanzhou University, and the executive director of the Center is Professor Zhu Yongbiao.
Positioning: Aiming to serve the B&R Initiative, the Center focuses on the development and utilization of natural resources, economic and social development, environmental protection, climate change, education and training, science and culture, medicine and health, international exchanges and other hotspot issues in West China and the regions along the Silk Road Economic Belt. The Center, relying on the disciplinary advantages, academic strengths and location edges of LZU, integrates domestic and foreign resources, especially the resources of B&R alliance universities, to carry out academic research with a focus on policy research, and provide decision-making consulting services and intellectual support for national and regional development.
Aims: To cultivate high-level, interdisciplinary, and internationally-oriented research teams by integrating the strengths and disciplinary advantages of LZU; to combine academic research, decision-making consultation, talent cultivation, international exchange, and public opinion guidance into one; to effectively promote disciplinary construction, interdisciplinary integration, and development of innovation teams, and to build itself into a comprehensive influential think tank in China in meeting major strategic demands of B&R nations and regions.
Organizational Structure: As a university-level research and consulting platform affiliated to Social Science Administration of Lanzhou University, the Center adopts the director responsibility system, sets up an advisory committee to provide advice on its major decision-makings including overall planning, top-level design, resource collection etc., and has an academic committee to deliberate on its major academic affairs covering scientific research, academic exchanges, work plans, etc. An entity-based operating mechanism is generally adopted for the Centre.
Missions: To organize and carry out basic, applied and comprehensive research projects closely related to the B&R Initiative; to provide the state with first-class policy and decision-making consulting services on the core nodes along B&R regions; to provide intellectual support for Gansu Province to be integrated into and promote B&R construction; to provide relevant decision-making consulting services for overseas investments and for innovation and entrepreneurship of youth in the core nodes of B&R regions; to provide and cultivate relevant high-level talents for countries in B&R regions; to serve as a high-end dialogue platform for B&R international cooperation and for political, industrial and academic communication and exchange; to facilitate the transformation of achievements in humanities and social sciences and other related disciplines of LZU into think tank achievements.
Research Objects and Contents: The Center relies on the strengths and advantages of LZU and adjusts itself to the major practical needs of B&R nations and regions. It concentrates available research strengths and resources on China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor, China–Pakistan Economic Corridor while moderately covering other node countries. The Center carries out comprehensive research on policy communication, facility connectivity, trade promotion, capital financing, and civil exchanges among these involved nations and regions. Its emphasis involves the following five aspects: (a) national and regional studies, (b) collaborative regional economic development and corporate innovations, (c) Dunhuang Silk Road civilization and transnational nationality societies, (d) agricultural development and ecological security policies, and (e) public health and pharmaceutical industry development policies.
Outputs: Since 2018, Research Center for the Belt and Road of Lanzhou University has actively made proposals and suggestions and achieved fruitful results, including 12 consulting reports, instructed by major leaders of Gansu Provincial Party Committee and Gansu Provincial People’s Government, and dozens of consulting reports adopted by relevant state ministries and commissions. On September 5th, 2019, at the 6th Anniversary Achievements Presentation of the “Belt and Road”, jointly hosted by “Belt and Road” University Think Tank Association, Shaanxi University “Belt and Road” Think Tanks and Institute of Silk Road Studies, Northwest University, the Institute of Silk Road Studies, Northwest University issued the Chinese Universities “Comprehensive Influence Ranking of ‘Belt and Road’ Think Tanks”. The Research Center for the Belt and Road of Lanzhou University ranks the 5th in the national Comprehensive Influence Ranking of ‘Belt and Road’ Think Tanks, among which its decision-making influence ranks the 3rd, its media influence ranks the 6th.
