January 5th, Guangdong Research Institute for International Strategies held the 2011 Annual Conference in the International Conference Hall in the Administration Building of the North Campus. Sui Guangjun, the Party Secretary of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and the Executive Deputy Director, Zhong Weihe, the president of GDUFS, Fang Fanquan, the vice-president, the heads of the departments of the university and colleges, the teacher representatives and the staff of GRIIS attended the conference. It was hosted by Gu Yeli, the vice-president.
The meeting concluded the work which had been finished by the Institute since its foundation and put forward the working plan for 2012. President Zhong Weihe approved of the work and achievements that the Institute had reached and hoped for a better performance. Then, Li Qing, the secretary-general of GRIIS, reported in detail the work which had been done and the focus of 2012. The Institute has been sticking to the "Five-Ones" project, namely, one large-scale forum (Guangdong Open Forum), one series of lectures (Yunshan Forum), one publication (academic journal "Studies on Strategic Decisions" and inside-published "Trends of the International Affairs"), one series of think-tank books, and one international strategic information base. In 2012, the Institute would take the prosperity plan of philosophy and social science as its responsibility and further the studies on the theories, practices and policies of Guangdong International Strategy.
Chen Weiguang, director of Development and Planning Department, Yang Aimin, director of Scientific Research Department, and Jiao Fangtai, director of International Department provided advice and suggestions for the Institute from the perspectives of discipline building, Research projects and international communications. They suggested that the Institute should aim at "building the first-class think-tank in the world" and be willing to undertake projects of high level, which would lead to fruitful results. At the same time, attention should be paid on the model and approach of the results transition.
At last, Sui Guangjun thanked the concern of the Guangdong Provincial Government to GDUFS and the hard work by the departments and colleges of the university and the whole staff of the Institute. There had been many achievements, but it also left much to improve in the process of being a first-class think-tank in 2012. He put forward five requirements on behalf of the university: 1. The focus of the Institute should be shifted from foundation building to brand building. It should be a famous high-level think-tank which provides services and directs the decision-making of society and government. 2. It should be located in the university and improve the research ability and play its role in decision-making service. 3. It should strengthen the communication with the other high-level think-tanks. 4. It should enhance the training of the talents. 5. It should emphasize international cooperation.
