Tsinghua Area Studies Forum is organized by the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) of Tsinghua University. Upholding the principles of academic freedom, equality and scholarly autonomy, this forum aims to build an international academic platform for area studies where scholars from all countries share their academic ideas, scientific research outcomes and research methods, and thus gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the changes, development and problems in developing areas. The forum seeks to amplify the voice of scholars from developing countries, facilitate mutual inspiration among these scholars, and advance common development. Since its inception in 2019, the Forum has convened three times under the themes: “Innovating New Approaches to Common Challenges in Asia, Africa and Latin America”, “Areas of the World and the World in Areas”, and “Developing Countries in an Age of Uncertainty: Risk, Resilience, and Dependence”. These gatherings have attracted a total of 462 outstanding scholars from different regions, with 92 panels held. A collection of forum proceedings in Chinese and English was published.

On November 5, 2024, the inauguration ceremony of the Mexico Unit of Fieldwork of IIAS, Tsinghua University, and the academic symposium on ‘Development and Sustainability in the Global South from a New Developmentalist Perspective’ was held at El Colegio de México. Established by the Institute for International and Area Studies of Tsinghua University (hereinafter referred to as ‘IIAS’) and the Center for Asia-Africa Studies of El Colegio de México, the Mexico Unit of Fieldwork will become an important platform for promoting transnational academic exchanges and cooperation and for exploring the future direction of the development of area studies.

The inauguration ceremony of the Nepal Field Station of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University on October 1, 2024, and the academic symposium titled "Social Development and Sustainability of the Global South from the Perspective of New Developmentalism" was held at Kathmandu University (Dhulikhel Campus). The Nepal Field Station, jointly established by the IIAS of Tsinghua University and Kathmandu University, aims to serve as a crucial platform for promoting transnational academic exchange and cooperation, as well as exploring the future development of regional and country-specific studies.

On May 17, the inauguration ceremony of the Bangkok Field Station of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) of Tsinghua University and the “Area Studies as a Discipline” Workshop were held at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus. Jointly founded by the IIAS and the Institute of East Asian Studies of Thammasat University, the Bangkok Field Station will provide Tsinghua University and its partner institutions a platform for field studies, promote academic exchanges and cooperation across countries, and explore the development direction and path for area studies.

From June 28 to June 30, 2024, the “2024 Regional and Country Studies Youth Summer Camp of IIAS, Tsinghua University” (hereinafter referred to as the summer camp) was successfully held. The summer camp received more than 200 applications, and 48 students from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, ...