The chief mission of the center is to advance world-class research on society, politics, and the economy of contemporary China at Duke Kunshan University—and, in so doing, to contribute to the international reputation of a unique global liberal arts university. To this end and mindful of synergies, the center:

• Supports excellence in research on contemporary China by the faculty of the university’s undergraduate degree program,
• Enriches undergraduate learning experience through connecting a rigorous, systematic, empirical research process with social science knowledge, and
• Brings together leading scholars from China and elsewhere around the world to freely exchange ideas and research findings about contemporary China.