1. The orientation and objectives of the discipline, the discipline direction settings, the faculty of the discipline.

（1）Discipline objectives and orientation

The main objective of the applied economics discipline is to train creative professionals who master applied economics and management theories and are skilled in quantitative and qualitative analysis. It also aims to developing scientific research interests and their rigorous scientific research styles in order to help graduates carry out academic research and applied research by using their academic innovation and practical problem-solving skills.

（2）Discipline direction setting

At present, the first level discipline of applied economics mainly relies on the discipline of Master’s Degree in international trade. After years of unremitting efforts, the discipline of economics has formed a group of characteristic and advantaged subjects which include Forest Products Trade, the Theory and Policy of Regional Economics, Northeast Asia and Sino-Russian Forestry Economic and Trade Cooperation, Study on Forestry Industry Development Strategy, Regional Economic Development, and Environmental Finance, contributing to the cultivation of professionals with international academic vision. Among them, research on the International Trade of Forest (Agricultural) Products has formed clear disciplinary characteristics.

（3）Discipline faculty

There are 21 full-time teachers for the Business Administration Discipline, including 5 professors, 7 associate professors, 7 lecturers, 3 Ph.D. supervisors, and 10 master’s supervisors. 80 per cent of the teachers have obtained Ph.D. degrees, and 60 per cent of them have the experience studying abroad.

2. The advantages and characteristics of the discipline, training objective and quantity, and scientific research level and achievements.

（1）Discipline Advantages

The first advantage is the faculty. The teachers here all have strong research ability and they form a team that is reasonable in structure, age and knowledge. The second advantage is the conditions for talent training. The discipline has advanced labs and practice bases. Third is the advantage of combining production, teaching and research. The discipline has established close cooperative relationships with northeast state-owned forestry Enterprises and foreign trade enterprises, providing effective support for scientific research and personnel training.

（2）Discipline characteristics

Based on the geographical advantages of the state-owned forests in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, the discipline researches the development and reforms of forestry economy in these two areas. Meanwhile, its research into applied economics show remarkable characteristics as the result of taking full geographical advantages of the discipline location in the center of the state-owned forests in the northeast and Inner Mongolia and bordering with Russia.

• On regional economic theories and policies, discussions about the coordinated development of regional ecology, economy and society are fully made, and in-depth studies on state-owned forestry industry and the reform and development of state-owned forest areas are systematically carried out;

• On forest product trade and market research, studies are conducted regarding the economic cooperation and trade in Northeast Asia and Sino-Russian cooperation, taking the lead in our country not only on timber production and trade, but on ecological environment protection and utilization as well;

• The discipline has the characteristic research fields of regional finance foundation theory and fiscal policy;

• The studies are also on forestry industrial agglomeration and development, the forestry industry development strategy formulation and strategy implementation, especially on forestry industry development and strategy implementation of state owned forest areas in northeast old industrial bases;

• In the field of environmental financial analysis, taking geographical advantages, the discipline has established its study direction in the field of environmental finance research, closely combining the specific needs of financial absence of state-owned forest areas and focusing on the financial innovation services of carbon finance and sustainable development of state owned forest areas.

(3) Talent training objectives and quantity, scientific research level and achievements

According to the needs of social and economic development, the discipline of applied economics trains a group of innovative professionals who can independently research in the field of applied economics and also teach well and handle the administrative work. The discipline has trained a large number of outstanding talents for the country and the society and the number of personnel training continues to rise.

In recent years, the discipline of applied economics has gained some achievements. Researchers from the discipline undertook two national projects, 30 provincial and horizontal projects. Project funding has reached over 2 million RMB. Moreover, there are lots of research advisory reports submitted to the local government and enterprises. Over 80 papers were published on the Chinese core journals, including over 30 CSSCI, CSCD and EI. A total of 4 academic monographs were published. More than 10 provincial awards were gained. All of these reflect the comprehensive ability of the discipline to carry out high level and interdisciplinary research.

3. The main influence of the discipline at home and abroad and the development of its social services

First, through holding all kinds of training classes at home and abroad, the discipline has expanded its cultural exchanges and promoted the construction of ecological civilization and the development of the forestry industry. In recent years, the discipline has offered training programs for students from Russia, Finland, France, and Korea, as well as more training courses for various other social sectors on the theory and practice of carbon sink, carbon finance and so on. Second, the discipline plays the role of a think tank to provide advice for the development of local industries. Two of the teachers from the discipline are members of the expert committee of Heilongjiang who have been to many places throughout Heilongjiang to investigate the economic and trade cooperation with Russia, and submit new development proposals. The discipline actively made references for the provincial government, led the formulation and release of Heilongjiang’s economic and trade cooperation with Russia, and provided consulting services for the export-oriented development of the forestry industry in state-owned forest regions. Third, the discipline focuses on the characteristics of subject, pays attention to the transformation of research results and improving the level of social services. Based on the research results of economic and trade cooperation with Russia, the discipline provides feasible plans of the transformation of the export-oriented economy and the strategy of going out for the state-owned forest industry enterprises in Northeast China. The relevant research results have been applied in the Inner Mongolia forestry industry. The discipline also has participated in feasibility studies on the development of Russian forest resources, and made contributions to the sustainable development of state-owned forest areas. Fourth, relying on Sino-Russian Forestry Science and Technology and Economic Cooperation Center and Forestry Carbon Sequestration Research Center, the discipline actively attends many academic conferences at home and abroad and carries out academic exchanges. Forestry plays an important role in dealing with climate change. Taking carbon dioxide as a financial innovation tool, the discipline studies international carbon trading mechanisms and the development of China’s participation in international carbon trading, and further studies the ecological, economic and social coordinated development of state-owned forest areas from the perspective of financial innovation. The professors at the discipline undertake a large amount of government consultation and social work. Meanwhile, the backbone teachers at the discipline have important social part-time jobs and social influence, serving as national and local government policy consultants and academic advisors.