On the afternoon of July 2, faculty and students from the School of International Education and the School of Finance of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law visited CITIC Futures Co., Ltd. for a research activity. Participants included Niu Changwei, Director of the Chinese Language Teaching and Research Section at the School of International Education; Wang Xiujing, Director of the Graduate Office at the School of Finance; Li Jiaqi, Counselor at the School of International Education; and 22 international students from the "Silk Road Financial Future Leaders Pilot Program" summer school.

The event commenced with a systematic introduction by Ms. Zheng Yuqing, Business Manager of the Institutional Client Department at CITIC Futures Central-South Branch, who presented the company's development history, organizational structure, core business segments, and daily operational management model. This provided faculty and students with a clear understanding of the overall operations of a leading domestic futures company.

Subsequently, Mr. Huang Xuan, Deputy General Manager of the Industrial Client Department at CITIC Futures Central-South Branch, delivered a keynote lecture titled "Fundamentals of Futures and Options". Beginning with the concepts and characteristics of futures and options, the lecture outlined the development trajectory of China's futures market, with particular emphasis on core elements such as the standardization of futures contracts, margin trading mechanisms, and price discovery functions. Mr. Huang vividly analyzed the practical application value of futures tools in risk management and resource allocation through case studies of specific commodities such as crude oil and agricultural products. Linking these to the current macroeconomic situation, he provided accessible explanations of the operational principles behind professional strategies like basis trading and hedging. The detailed content of the lecture significantly deepened participants' understanding of the operational mechanisms and practical applications of the futures market.

During the interactive session, faculty and students engaged in lively discussions with CITIC Futures professionals on cutting-edge topics such as the internationalization of China's futures market and innovations in risk management tools.

Participating international students generally expressed that this field research activity not only enhanced their understanding of the operational models and corporate culture of China's futures market but also allowed them to directly experience the vitality and potential of China's financial markets.