On May 22,2025, the lecture titled "Field Investigation Methods in Regional and Country Studies: A Case Study of the Yemen War and Houthi Militants," part of the Country and Region Research Lecture Series jointly organized by the Northeast Asia Research Center, Northeast Asia College, Northeast Asia Institute, and the Institute of Regional Economics at Jilin University, was successfully held. The event featured a keynote speech by Professor Ma Xiaolin, Dean of the Mediterranean Environment Research Institute at Zhejiang International Studies University, a second-level professor, doctoral supervisor at Shanghai University, a leading talent under China's National Ten Thousand Talents Program, and an international affairs expert receiving the State Council Allowance. The lecture was chaired by Professor Wu Hao, Dean of both the Northeast Asia College and the Northeast Asia Institute at Jilin University, with over 50 faculty members and students from the college in attendance.

During the lecture, Professor Ma Xiaolin first provided a detailed introduction to the scope of country and regional studies, emphasizing that regional studies possess distinct characteristics—including contemporary relevance, cutting-edge nature, and practical applicability—and hold significant policy implications for analyzing local development, major power relations, and global dynamics. When discussing the context of the Yemen War, Professor Ma conducted an in-depth analysis of its causes from multiple perspectives: the region's geographical history, complex religious factions, interference by regional powers, and great-power competition, concluding that it was a war with no winners. He also shared insights from his fieldwork in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, where he assessed the overall security situation, economic conditions, and living standards, thereby offering further insights into the future trajectory of the conflict.

The lecture received enthusiastic responses. During the Q&A session, faculty and students raised questions on topics of concern, such as trade between China and Yemen, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the Middle East situation. Professor Ma Xiaolin's patient answers and humorous explanations earned rounds of applause from the audience. Finally, Dean Wu Hao summarized the content of the lecture and expressed his gratitude to Professor Ma Xiaolin. Dean Wu noted that the lecture provided an interpretation of Yemen's situation from a field research perspective, demonstrating the research value and significance of regional studies, and thoroughly elaborated on how to advance the discipline and research in this field. Combining the keen insight of a media professional, the academic rigor of a scholar, and a deep understanding of national policy applications, Professor Ma Xiaolin fully emphasized the importance of maintaining national unity and stability—making it not merely an academic presentation but also a valuable ideological and political lesson.

This report has deepened the understanding of Yemen's war and regional studies among our faculty and students, further explored the research framework and key considerations in regional studies, highlighted the necessity of integrating theory with practice, and holds significant value for inspiring interdisciplinary collaboration, broadening international perspectives, and advancing academic inquiry.