On December 5, 2020, sponsored by Institute of International Studies and School of Northeast Asian Studies, and co-organized by Weihai Social Science Association, “The Fifth China Renaissance Forum: Addressing a Changing World—The New International Environment China Faces” was successfully held in Weihai. More than 170 experts, scholars and students from China and abroad participated in the Forum. The participating experts and scholars focused on the current changes in the international situation, the epidemic and international cooperation. An online plus on-site approach was adopted and a combination of presentations and discussions were organized into three sessions.
The forum was chaired by Professor Zhang Yunling—Chair Professor and President of the Institute of International Studies at Shandong University, as well as member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Zhao Yupu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Shandong University at Weihai and Dean of the School of Northeast Asia Studies, delivered an opening speech, expressing warm welcome and gratitude to all the experts, scholars and guests attending the conference, fully affirming the influence of the Forum as a Shandong University academic brand.
The theme of the first session was “Responding to the Changing International Environment”. Professor Robert Ross from Harvard University, political officer Akiko Yamanaka from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Professor Park Tae from Seoul University respectively gave a presentation under the title of “Current and Future Sino-U.S. Relations”, “Building Northeast Asian Community in Non-Traditional Security Field”, and “The Impact of COVID-19 on East Asia and South Korea”. In-depth discussions were developed among participating experts after the presentations.
The second session is centered around the theme of “Characteristics of and Responses to Changes in the International Situation”. Various experts and schoolers attended the forum: Chen Wenling—Chief Economist of China Center for International Economic Exchange, Hu Zhengyue—Vice President of China Public Diplomacy Association, Yuan Zheng—Deputy Director of Institute of American Studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Dong Xiangrong—Researcher at Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy Studies at CASS, Tang Yongsheng—Dean of School of National Security at China People’s Liberation Army National Defence University, Gao Hong—former director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at CASS and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and researcher Zheng Yu from Institute of Russian and Central Asian Studies at CASS. And attendees made presentations on the topics of “The Pandemic, Sino-US relations, and technological and industrial revolution”, “Cooperation between China and ASEAN”, “The Biden Administration’s Strategy towards China”, “Class Rigidity and Minor Changes in International Society”, “Current International Instability and China’s Response”, and “Core Issues in Current Sino-Russian Relations”.
In the afternoon, the third session was developed under the theme of “Pandemic and International Cooperation”. Researcher Li Huiming from Institute of International Studies at Shandong University was the host and the attendees include Professor Wu Xinbo—Director of Center for East Asian Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, Associate Professor Li Xinlei from School of Political Science and Public Administration at Shandong University, Researcher Hu Feiyue from Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Cha Daojiong from School of International Relations at Peking University, and Professor Li Yuan—Deputy Dean of Institute of International Studies at Shandong University. Presentations were given under the titles such as “Strengthening Sino-Japanese Cooperation in the Post-Pandemic Era”, “COVID-19 and International Public Health Cooperation”. Professor Zhang Yunling had extensive discussions with the attending experts and scholars on related issues.
In the end, Professor Zhang Yunling, President and Chair Professor of the Institute of International Studies at Shandong University and member of the CASS, made a summary of the forum, emphasizing the significance of talking about “China Renaissance” in Weihai, and hoped that the Forum could provide a platform for everyone to study the international environment of and various major issues facing China’s rejuvenation.
