Think tanks urge deeper Asia-Europe cooperation

Media organizations and think tanks should take the lead in promoting joint research, youth exchanges and cultural dialogue, creating conditions for cross-cultural understanding and converging into a powerful force driving the prosperity of Eurasia, experts from China and abroad said at a high-level forum on Tuesday.

Liao Fan, director-general of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that think tanks can play an important role in promoting Asia-Europe cooperation by conducting forward-looking research, comparative analysis and multilateral discussions.

By providing intergovernmental consultations, think tanks can inject long-term momentum into Asia-Europe cooperation, Liao said.

He made the remarks at the Think Tank Conference of the Euro-Asia Economic Forum in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province. The forum, jointly organized by the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the CASS and the China Watch Institute of China Daily, attracted more than 120 participants, including experts from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.

Xu Ketao, vice-mayor of Xi'an, said that the conference has conducted systematic, scientific and strategic assessments on Eurasian economic development, major changes in the international landscape, and deeply rooted regional issues.

Xu said that communication and dialogue among experts have fostered a wealth of research achievements and policy recommendations with significant academic value and influence. These outcomes provide strong intellectual support for Eurasian countries to further deepen economic and trade cooperation, enhance cultural exchanges, and promote practical and profound regional collaboration.

"Currently, the world is undergoing unprecedented changes unseen in a century, with the global economy being profoundly reshaped. As a key engine of global economic growth and a hub for the convergence of civilizations, the Eurasia region now finds multilateral exchanges, deepened mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation more essential than ever before," Xu said.