On April 25, the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University (IIS Fudan) and the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs at IE University in Spain signed a bilateral academic cooperation agreement, establishing a long-term platform for practical bilateralcross-border collaboration built on each side's disciplinary strengths and research expertise. Professor Wu Xinbo, Dean of the IIS, and Enrico Letta, Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, attended the signing ceremony, which was chaired by Dr. Yan Shaohua, Deputy Director of the Center for China-Europe Relations.
The agreement centers on three core areas: joint research, joint talent development, and think-tank policy dialogue. In research, the two sides will undertake joint projects and dedicated studies on priority themes such as China-Europe relations, global multilateral governance, and coordinated regional economic development, sharing data and findings and producing reports of both academic and policy value. In talent development, they will run regular programs for faculty and student exchanges, joint training for young scholars, and academic visits by master's and doctoral students, creating a two-way channel for developing international talent and strengthening the talent base for area studies. In think-tank exchange, they will hold bilateral academic forums, thematic seminars, and policy dialogues on a regular basis, convening leading experts and policymakers from China and Europe for in-depth discussion and building a professional venue that links academic research with policy practice.
The IIS Fudan has worked for many years in major-power relations, area studies, and global governance, with deep disciplinary expertise and strong think-tank capacity, and serves as an important platform in China for international studies, academic exchange abroad, and foreign-policy consultation. The IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs has long specialized in European political economy and global affairs, with a solid grounding in regional studies and extensive resources. The two institutions are highly complementary and well matched for cooperation. This partnership is of real significance and strategic value for advancing area studies at the IIS: it will help refine the Institute's area studies framework, broaden channels for China-Europe academic exchange, and provide intellectual support for deepening practical China-Europe cooperation.
