He chairs programs at the National Planning Project of Philosophy and Social Sciences as well as the National Project sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of The State Council. In 2005, he was selected by China's MFA as a member of the Chinese Diplomatic Observer Group to observe parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan. Lifan has been a Council Member of Shanghai Society for Russia and Central Asia, a fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar, and a Member of the Editorial Board on Asian Journal of Global Studies in Japan. He has lectured widely in the U.S., Central Asia and Europe, and published articles on a variety of topics within China and abroad. Lifan graduated from Belarusian State University, obtaining both a BA and MA. He is continuing his studies as a PhD candidate on political sciences in Kazakhstan.