Consisting of NingboTech's Polish Studies Center and 14 other research institutions in Zhejiang province, Zhejiang Think Tank Network for Belt and Road Studies was inaugurated during the ceremony held in Zhejiang Normal University on September 1st. Under the guidance of Zhejiang Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences Circles and led by Zhejiang Normal University's Institute of African Studies (IASZNU), the Network is formed and run by entities including research institutions, think tanks, media outlets and government departments. Prof. HU Jie, head of the Polish Studies Center and Dean of NingboTech's School of International Studies, and Prof. WANG Xiaolu attended the event.

ZHONG Yijun, Vice President of Zhejiang Normal University, and LIU Hongwu, Changjiang Scholar and Director of IASZNU, presented founding members with their plaques.

The Network, guided by the national strategy of the Belt and Road Initiative, is aimed at serving Zhejiang's development by integrating various think tanks. Through institutional innovation, it's expected that the Network could be a source of consultation for governments, a service center for businesses and a bridge connecting the peoples of various nations, and eventually become China's leading and internationally renowned organization.

As the first Ningbo-based research institution dedicated to international and regional studies, the Polish Studies Center has long been engaged in comprehensive studies of political, economic, cultural and educational conditions in Poland and other Central and Eastern European countries by integrating resources under the "China-CEEC 17+1 Cooperation Framework" since its inception in 2017. A number of positive results have been yielded in terms of cultural and academic exchanges, cooperation between universities, Polish language teaching and the yearly Polish Week, and the third "Polish Week" and Ningbo and CEE Entrepreneurs Forum in the Post-Pandemic Era last June was covered by People's Daily, one of the most authoritative and influential newspapers in China.

In the future, the center will strive to set up a China-CEEC cooperation network, offer political consultation and trade services, and promote cultural communication and educational cooperation as well. A fully-fledged professional training mechanism, an incubator of talents for the Silk Road and an ever-improving mechanism for spreading local culture are expected to be set up.

Zhejiang Think Tank Network for Belt and Road Studies, the fourth think tank alliance in Zhejiang province, was formed at a critical moment when Zhejiang province is striving to build itself into a hub for the Belt and Road Initiative, an important platform to practice the community of shared future for mankind.

As an initiator of this strategic organization, the Polish Studies Center, following the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, will help enhance forward-looking and comprehensive studies related to the Belt and Road Initiative, give advice to countries along the Belt and Road and promote policy coordination.