Dr. Yerken Wuzhati, an ethnic Kazakh, is an Associate Research Fellow and Master’s Supervisor at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He also serves as Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the “Belt and Road” Research Sub-Committee of the Geographical Society of China. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Management and Economics from Peking University in 2010 and a Ph.D. in Science from CAS in 2016.

Dr. Wuzhati’s research focuses on economic geography and regional development, with particular attention to the Belt and Road Initiative. His work examines the spatial evolution of special economic zones, regional economic development in Central Asia and the Middle East, and innovation in underdeveloped regions. He has published over 20 academic papers and contributed to 12 books, including Urbanization Patterns and Dynamics in Central Asia and Innovation and Development in Underdeveloped Regions.

He has led or participated in more than 30 national and regional projects and received honors such as the China-Japan-Korea Young Geographer Award.