Shanghai's Fudan University has opened a research institute focused on the Belt and Road Initiative, and it aims to provide policy insight and intellectual support to Chinese diplomacy.

The Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance is an answer to President Xi Jinping's philosophy on global governance and a substantial move to promote the initiative, according to Jiao Yang, the university's Party chief and director of the institute.

"Universities and research institutes have much to do to implement and push ahead with Xi's global vision, especially the Belt and Road Initiative," she said.

Jiao said Fudan University has been an active member of the Belt and Road Think Tank Cooperation Alliance, which brings together experts to discuss policies and initiative projects.

The new institute should "groom talent accordingly and yield first-class results" that contribute to diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, added Wang Yajun, a senior official with the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

The institute comprises eight branches that perform research on a variety of sectors, such as international security, global governance, people-to-people exchanges and international communication.

Experts have called for concerted efforts in research orientation among like-minded groups, as well as a "question-oriented" approach when the institute is up and running.

"The think tank should refrain from simply providing literary reviews and publishing academic articles," said Du Yubo, head of the China Association of Higher Education. "Instead, it should focus on issues derived from reality and aim to provide tangible solutions."

Zheng Bijian, head of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, added that Fudan University can use interdisciplinary resources to promote domestic and international cooperation as well as improve international policy exchanges, so as to help lay a foundation to promote the initiative.

The institute is supported by China CEFC Energy, which has pledged 5 million yuan ($753,400) a year to bolster its development.

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(China Daily USA?11/10/2017 page9)

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