The sound of autumn outside the clouds, the surging waves in the bay area, the five years of prosperity, and the dream of building a sea ahead. On September 27, 2025, on the occasion of its fifth anniversary, the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs held the "Qianhai Think Tank Dean Dialogue Forum" at the forefront of China's reform and opening up - the Shenzhen Qianhai Free Trade Zone. The forum brought together top think tank experts at home and abroad to engage in in-depth dialogue on how think tanks can respond to the challenges of the times and how to build, operate, and develop new types of think tanks with Chinese characteristics. By engaging in high-quality ideological exchanges and sharing experiences, we aim to promote the updating of ideas and reshaping of capabilities in the operation and management of think tanks, and help build a new type of think tank with a global perspective and Chinese sentiment. This is not only a tribute to the achievements of the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the research institute, but also a collective exploration of the future development of think tanks - to discuss the mission of think tanks and seek new development together. Zheng Yongnian, Dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) and Dean of the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs, pointed out in his opening speech that although China's think tank construction has made great achievements, it is still in the "start-up" stage compared to some developed countries. He believes that the success of a national think tank depends on three major factors: whether it conforms to the civilization and traditions of the country, whether it can face the problems that exist in the country, and whether it can cope with the challenges brought by the changes of the times. Unlike the West, contemporary Chinese think tanks also bear the significant responsibility of building an independent knowledge system. Zheng Yongnian pointed out that the main function of Chinese universities currently focuses on "knowledge imparting" rather than "knowledge creation". Therefore, think tanks that are more up-to-date and closer to practice are better equipped to undertake the important task of building an original knowledge system based on Chinese experience. Regarding the current situation where think tanks are facing unprecedented challenges from artificial intelligence (AI), Zheng Yongnian stated that the challenges brought by AI are comprehensive and mainly reflected in three aspects: first, the risk of being "replaced", as AI has surpassed most people in efficiency; The second is the risk of "colonization". Currently, most of the "feed" for AI models comes from the West, which may lead to non Western countries losing their information sovereignty and intellectual sovereignty, and falling into "intellectual colonization"; The third is' deep forgery ', where AI is shaking the foundation of human civilization based on empirical facts. He proposed that Chinese think tanks must accelerate the construction of their own knowledge system and produce more 'Chinese feed' to influence the development of AI; At the same time, researchers should divide labor with AI, firmly believe in the principle of "seeing is believing", conduct more field investigations that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence, discover real problems, and ensure that AI maintains its tool attributes and is within human control. Li Xuejin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Associate Vice President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), delivered a speech on behalf of the university. He first expressed warm congratulations on the fifth anniversary of the establishment of Qianhai International Affairs Research Institute, and highly affirmed that the institute has grown into a national strategic force serving national strategic decision-making as an important achievement of deep cooperation between universities and regions in the past five years, and is a banner for the construction of think tanks in Shenzhen and even across the country. Think tanks are important bridge media connecting universities, governments, society, and industry. They are also strategic carriers for universities to practice the integration of knowledge and action, influence society, and serve the country. ”Li Xuejin stated that The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) has always regarded the research institute as a valuable asset and a golden signboard. In the future, it will continue to fully support the research institute in exploring innovative operational models and embarking on a sustainable development path of "self generation". He pointed out that under the leadership of Dean Zheng Yongnian, the research institute is striving to explore the "Shenzhen model" that can be used for reference in the era of "how to build a world-class leading think tank with international vision and Chinese sentiment". He hopes that this forum can gather more consensus for deepening the construction of a new type of think tank with Chinese characteristics, and work together to promote China's think tank industry to a new level. The first topic of the forum is "How think tanks can construct independent knowledge systems based on practice, bridge the gap between academic research and policy research, especially in the era of AI, and find their own positioning", presided over by Bao Hong, Assistant Dean of Qianhai Institute of International Affairs. Zhang Guanzi, President of the Chinese path to modernization Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, shared the topic of "Exploring the greatest common denominator between learning and use". He believed that building an independent knowledge system oriented to Chinese path to modernization should be considered from four dimensions: historical perspective, world perspective, scientific perspective and practical perspective. Huang Weiting, Deputy Director of the Decision Consulting Department of the Macro Economic Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, based on his thoughts on economic work, pointed out that the essence of building China's independent knowledge system is the knowledge production process of "elevating Chinese experience into Chinese theory", and emphasized that the leading role of "landmark concepts" should be played well. He Xinhong, Secretary of the Party Group and President (Chairman candidate) of the Shenzhen Academy of Social Sciences (Shenzhen Federation of Social Sciences), believes that in order to respond to the needs of the times, the construction of a new type of think tank with Chinese characteristics should actively embrace new technologies, face real problems in reality, and promote the "great synergy" of disciplines. Wu Zhiliang, Deputy Director of the Culture, Culture, History, and Learning Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Foundation, shared Macao's unique experience under the theme of "From the Initiative of Macao Studies to the Construction of Think Tanks". He pointed out that the construction of Macao studies effectively solves practical problems such as identity recognition, social governance, and value cohesion. Gong Sen, Director of the International Development and Governance Research Center at Zhejiang University, emphasized that "think tank research needs to improve academic literacy" and achieve "not only books, not only superiors, but only practicality". Through abstract thinking of practice, we can see the essence of problems. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of China (Shenzhen) Institute of Comprehensive Development, proposed that the core capability of think tanks lies in the "translation" of academic and practical information, and think tank talents must possess four key abilities: judgment, learning, professionalism, and teamwork. The second topic is "How to achieve scientific evaluation and mobility of think tank talent teams, and explore the 'revolving door' mechanism under China's unique national conditions", chaired by Yuan Randong, Vice President of Qianhai Institute of International Affairs. Li Cheng, Director of the Center for Contemporary China and World Studies at the University of Hong Kong, takes the trend of "rising east and falling west" as the starting point and points out that American think tanks are facing severe challenges such as political polarization, McCarthyism, or resurgence, which has established a new historical mission for the development of Chinese think tanks. Chen Weirong, President of Southern Power Grid Energy Development Research Institute, shared the practical experience of state-owned enterprise think tanks. He stated that a think tank talent competence model should be constructed through the dual wheel drive of "scientific evaluation and ecological collaboration", which includes three dimensions of ability, knowledge, and values. Based on the construction practice of the talent team of Southern Power Grid Energy Institute, he proposed to promote internal collaboration and talent flow through innovative team PI (Chief Researcher) system and other methods. Luo Liangcai, Vice President of the Economic and Technical Research Institute of China Petroleum Group, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Petroleum Writers Association, and member of the China Petroleum Enterprise Culture Expert Group, conducted an in-depth analysis on how to build a "four three" high-level scientific research team to support the high-quality development of think tanks. This involves systematically building a high-level scientific research team through three levels of talent teams, three major platforms, three types of core achievements, and three core measures. Cai Xiongshan, vice president of Kwai Science and Technology and president of Kwai Research Institute, explained the value of Internet enterprise think tanks from the perspective of enterprises. Finally, Gu Yu, deputy director of the Internet and New Economy Special Committee of the China Economic System Reform Research Association, shared his experience on "change and unchangeability" based on his own work experience. He said that although the job responsibilities are changing, think tank workers always have the family and country feelings of "the biggest country", the idea of "practicing the truth", and the pattern of dedication of "success does not have to be in me". The third topic of the forum focuses on the theme of "How think tanks can carry out efficient and organized scientific research and establish governance mechanisms that meet practical needs", chaired by Huang Ping, Vice President of Qianhai Institute of International Affairs. Wei Chengguang, member of the Party Committee and Vice President of China Mobile Research Institute (China Mobile Think Tank), shared the experience of central enterprise think tanks. She pointed out that "organization" is the natural gene of central enterprise think tanks, and through the establishment of a think tank management and operation center as the center, coordinated interdisciplinary and cross professional topics through methods such as "unveiling and leading", and helped promote high-quality development of the country and industry. Li Gang, Director and Chief Expert of the China Think Tank Research and Evaluation Center at Nanjing University, pointed out that organized scientific research is the key to improving the efficiency of think tanks, and requires three pillars of support - resource guarantee, reasonable team structure, and collaborative mechanism. At the same time, current Chinese think tanks need to avoid the situation of "having a reservoir but no intelligence" or "having intelligence but no reservoir" through systematic construction, in order to realize the value of "think tank integration". Hu Wei, Director of the Institutional and Think Tank Evaluation Research Office at the China Academy of Social Sciences Evaluation, pointed out from an evaluation perspective that think tank evaluation and think tank construction are "two sides of the same coin", aiming to "promote construction and reform through evaluation"; At the same time, we should strengthen organizational stability and institutional construction, promote physical transformation, help young talents grow rapidly, and cultivate more leading figures to achieve sustainable development of think tanks. Wu Wenfeng, Director of the Humanities Construction Department at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, shared the practical experience of university think tanks. He believes that university think tanks should not only serve decision-making, but also "feed back discipline construction". He specifically pointed out the four major shifts of the university: promoting the transformation of science and engineering advantages into policies, strengthening the application of achievements, establishing a special title evaluation system for think tanks, expanding diversified investment mechanisms, and empowering with artificial intelligence technology to achieve a leap from "technological advantages" to "policy influence". Guo Hai, Executive Dean of the Public Policy Research Institute at South China University of Technology, admitted that there are challenges in integrating individualized social science scholars into organized scientific research. He believes that precise positioning, stable teams, and diverse transformation mechanisms are key to think tank organized scientific research, and institutional guarantees and platform support are needed to help researchers balance the "time competition" between academic and policy research. The last topic of the forum revolves around "How can think tanks achieve sustainable development through 'self generation', implement brand operation management, social public opinion guidance, and second track civil diplomacy?" It was chaired by Chen Chao, Vice Dean of the Institute of Political Economy at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Wu Shicun, Chairman of the Huayang Ocean Research Center and Academic Committee of the China South China Sea Research Institute, shared his unique experience in founding two types of think tanks: official think tanks and social think tanks. He stated that the ability to "self generate" is a prerequisite for sustainable development of a private think tank, and pointed out that the founder of a private think tank must have three roles: academic leader, entrepreneur, and social activist. Under the "light asset" operation mode, cultivating successors is crucial for the sustainable development of the think tank. Tang Zhiwei, Executive Dean of the Advanced Research Institute at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Shenzhen), introduced its "9+1" model of combining hard technology research with technology think tanks. Drawing on international experiences such as Rand Corporation, he proposed that think tanks must "productize" their research results and use technology tools such as vertical field artificial intelligence models to create self generated core competitiveness in order to move towards marketization. Shui Chi wai, Vice President of the United Hong Kong Fund and Executive Director of the Public Policy Research Institute, pointed out that think tanks are not only "ThinkTank", but also "ThinkDoTank", which means "integrating intelligence and action", and should create index based public institutions