On November 23rd, 2021, Professor OGAWA YUHEI, President of Japan Society of East Asian Studies and Chief of the Faculty of Management and Information Sciences, Kyushu Institute of Information Sciences, delivered an online keynote speech on “Regional Economic Cooperation in Northeastern Asia” at the invitation of the Northeast Asian Research Center of Jilin University, the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University and the Institute of Japanese Studies of Jilin University. Professor Pang Deliang, Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies of Jilin University, addressed and presided over the symposium. Wang Yanjun, Vice Dean of the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University, attended the symposium and served as an interpreter.    

    Professor OGAWA YUHEI is a renowned Japanese expert in the fields of East Asian economy and regional economic cooperation in Northeast Asia. Now as President of Japan Society of East Asian Studies, adjunct professor of the Northeast Asian Research Center of Jilin University (China’s Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ministry of Education) and an overseas editorial board member of Northeast Asia Forum, an academic journal of the Northeast Asian Studies College of Jilin University, he has in-depth research on the “Mediterranean economic circle” of East Asia.    

    In the lecture, Professor Ogawa elaborated on the concept, core issues and ideas of regional cooperation in Northeast Asia from three aspects, emphasizing the need to cultivate the awareness of “Northeast Asians”. Firstly, it is advocated to establish the local economic circle, especially the “Mediterranean Economic Circle in East Asia”. Secondly, from a geopolitical perspective, the difference in the border view between China and Japan is raised and it is mentioned that the border line should not be exclusive. Thirdly, it is proposed to construct three cooperation communities of which cross-border tourism is the easiest to achieve.

    In the Q&A section, Professor Ogawa gave wonderful replies to the questions raised by teachers and students. Professor Pang Deliang made comments on the lecture, saying that Professor Ogawa’s research on politics from the economic perspective is of great significance since the issue of Northeast Asian economy itself involves both politics and history. In the era of economic globalization, economic cooperation can act as an anchor and booster. Finally, Professor Pang Deliang expressed gratitude to Professor Ogawa for sharing the research results.

    This academic report is a session of the High-end Symposium on Northeast Asia International and Regional Studies and also part of Japanese expert lecture series. The successful holding of the lecture has enhanced the understanding of core issues, concepts and ideas of regional cooperation in Northeast Asian among teachers and students, and broadened their academic horizons. It is of positive significance to the academic exchanges between the college and Japan.