The Research Institute of Southeast Asia, Guangxi Academy Of Social Sciences, was established in December 1978 with the name of the Study Office of Indo-China in Guangxi Academy Of Social Sciences. In February 1979, the Study Office of Indo-China was changed to the Institute of Indo-China and, in May 1989 to the Research Institute of Southeast Asia. As one of the five special institutes in studying the nations of Southeast Asia and relationship between China and Southeast Asian nations, it focuses on politics, economy, culture and nationalities in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and so on, as well as relations between China and those countries. The main subjects to be studied here are History (history of Southeast Asia, history of relationship between China and Southeast Asia),  International Economics (economy of Southeast Asia), International Politics (politics and law in Southeast Asia), ethnic Chinese and Overseas Chinese (ethnic Chinese and Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia and their relationship with Guangxi’s ethnic groups), Ethnology (historical relations among nationalities in Southeast Asia and Zhuang, Thai, Laos and so on), Regional Economic Cooperation (Guangxi’s opening to Southeast Asia; economic cooperation on the border of China and Vietnam; the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area; the China-ASEAN Expo; the sub-regional cooperation of Greater Mekong Subregion; the establishment of Two Corridors Plus One Circle).

Research staff and Organizational structure: There are 20 research fellows in the institute, including 11 senior fellows. There are research sections of Vietnam, ASEAN, international relations and overseas Chinese. There is an administrative office, publication unit and library.

The Institute publishes a monthly journal entitled Around Southeast Asia, which is one of the Core Journals in Chinese.

Major publications:

1.Monographs: Cambodia; Vietnamese Economy; A Brief History of Relationship between China and Vietnam; Collection of Materials on Modern History of Relationship between China and Vietnam (3 volumes); Collection of Materials on Overseas Chinese from Guangxi; Vietnamese Economic Reform; Handbook of Southeast Asia; On Vietnamese Economic Reform; On the Establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area And Guangxi; Reader on China-ASEAN; Chinese and Overseas Chinese in Vietnam; Reader of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area;  Handbook of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia; Vietnam’s Socialism; Hoe Chi Minh and China; Vietnam’s Economic Development; A Report on Vietnam’s Situation (From 2000 to 2006); China-ASEAN Yearbook (2004,2005).

.2.Research Report:

The Research on the Relations between China and Vietnam; The Research on the Relations between China and Cambodia; The Research on Vietnam’s Economy; The Research on Guangxi’s Opening to Southeast Asia; The Research on the Establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and Guangxi’s Strategy; The Research on the Establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and Guangxi’s Agricultural Development; The Research on Border Trade between China and Vietnam; The Position and Role of ASEAN in Politics and Economy in Asia and the Pacific Ocean and the Impacts on Guangxi; The Research on Guangxi’s Opening to Southeast Asia; The Research on Tourist Cooperation between Guangxi and Southeast Asia; The Research on Guangxi’s Cooperation with Southeast Asia in Economy and Trade; The Research on Overseas Chinese from Guangxi; A Proposed Plan for the China-ASEAN Expo; Development Report of Southeast Asia; The Research on Guangxi’s Participation in Greater Mekong Sub-regional Cooperation; The Research on the Establishment of Two Corridors Plus One Circle, and so on.

All the researchers here master at least one language of Southeast Asia. For years we have established friendly relationship with research institutes and universities in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Philippine, and so on. 

Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia Issue 10 (August 2008)