On September 29, 2024, the 25th academic workshop of the Faculty of Economics was held at the office building of Puhe Campus. Professor Yu Miaojie, a Deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, a member of the 14th Standing Committee of Liaoning Province, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee and President of Liaoning University attended the seminar and delivered a speech. The seminar was hosted by the Faculty of Economics and undertaken by the China Open Economy Research Institute, the Research Center for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Counties and the Research Center for CIS Counties. The seminar was presided over by Professor Wang Weiguang, Deputy Director of the Faculty of Economics. Yin Ruyu, Associate Professor of the China Open Economy Research Institute and Deputy Director of the Office of International Affairs was invited to deliver an academic report titled ‘On the Role of International Institutional Diplomacy in the Foreign Relations of Central Asian Countries’. Heads of subordinate schools of the Faculty and teacher and student representatives attended the meeting.

Yu Miaojie put forward academic research methods and ideas that are both strategic and feasible in his speech, highlighting the importance of scientific research based on the national strategic needs and the development of the times. He encouraged scholars to focus on research fields that aim to solve real social problems and have practical values. He shared the remarkable achievements achieved by Liaoning University in the ‘Double First-class’ evaluation and its excellence in promoting academic research and teaching. He noted that by making use of the comprehensive strengths of Liaoning University, students at Liaoning University should cultivate their sensitivity to big data and the habit of extensive reading so as to lay a solid foundation for their future career. At the same time, he made positive remarks on the report from Associate Professor Yin Ruyu and encouraged young teachers to conduct interdisciplinary cooperation and research in the fields of international relations and economics. He added that such cooperation is vital to promote the deep integration of theories and practices and innovate academic results. At the end, he presented commemorative certificates to Associate Professor Yin Ruyu and former speakers including Associate Professor Chen Fu, Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Economics, Associate Professors Zhang Ziwei and Qiu Guoqing from the School of Economics.

Associate Professor Yin Ruyu discussed the strategic application of international institutions in the foreign relations of Central Asian countries and analyzed how Central Asian countries can optimize their diplomatic strategies and enhance their international right of speech through ‘institutional leverage’ in the context of global power competition. She elaborated on four types of ‘institutional leverage’, namely protection, defense, cooperation and stability, stating how Central Asian countries can adjust their diplomatic strategies to meet external challenges, improve international bargaining power and maintain regional stability and economic growth. Her report showed that Central Asian countries can use international institutional diplomacy to achieve diplomatic independence and autonomy, which provided insights for other countries to face similar challenges.

Professors Wang Weiguang and Huo Weidong, Deputy Directors of the Faculty of Economics, Associate Professor Geng Zhao of the Party School of Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and Assistant Professor Liu Renliang of Li Anmin Institute of Economic Research briefly summarized and commented on the report, noting that the report not only had innovation in theories, but also put forward feasible solutions around practical problems.