From June 19th to 24th 2016, 14 MID2015 students from 10 nations, led by Associate Dean Ms. MENG Bo, took part in the summer field study trip to Gansu province. The field study trip is designed as a component of the MID curriculum, the purpose of which is to provide an opportunity for students to observe and engage in China’s development practices and challenges. This year’s field study trip is designed not only to help students learn more about China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but also let them acquire in-depth knowledge of China’s western development especially in public service, urban planning, new energy manufacturing industry and poverty alleviation. Gansu has been the destination of the field trip for three consecutive years.
MID2015 students visited Lanzhou on June 20th and 21st. Lanzhou, with thousands of years of history, is home to more than 20 different ethnic groups and their respective cultures. The first stop in Lanzhou is the Gansu Rural Commercial Bank. Students participated in a panel discussion on the stimulus policies and supportive measures Gansu government has taken in promoting economic development, regional planning, rural credit and poverty alleviation. Then, MID students visited the School of Management in Lanzhou University and had a lively discussion based on the keynote speech “the Construction of Silk Road Economic Belt and the Cooperation between Gansu and Central Asian Countries” delivered by Dr. Zeng Xianghong, Professor of Lanzhou University.
On the second day in Lanzhou, MID students visited Lanzhou Urban Planning Center, Gansu Provincial Museum, Xihu Sub-district Office in Qilihe District and learned about the urban planning, community management, history and culture of Gansu province.
In the following two days, students were divided into groups and visited some famous sites in Wuwei city, such as Liangzhou West-street Community, New Energy Manufacturing Industry Park, Agriculture Greenhouse, Gulang County Ecology Emigrant Village and Wuwei Industrial Park. MID students took this great opportunity to understand the real situation of the China’s western development from a different perspective under the guidance of Belt and Road Initiative.
Before leaving Gansu, a meeting with the government authorities of Wuwei was organized. MID students raised questions of their concerns to representatives from the Development and Reform Commission, the Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, the Bureau of Education, the Bureau of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and the Foreign Affairs Office of Wuwei city.
During this field trip, MID students learned the development experiences of western China and put the theories they have learned into practice. This field study trip was successfully organized with the great effort of the School of Management in Lanzhou University, Tsinghua Gansu Alumni Association, and the government of Lanzhou and Wuwei.
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