On November 14, to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Shandong University, “Seminar on International Situation 2020”/“World Knowledge Forum 2020” was held in Beijing. The conference was co-sponsored by the Institute of International Studies of Shandong University and the “World Knowledge” magazine. Su Wen, chairman of World Knowledge Publishing House, delivered an opening speech, and Professor Zhang Yunling, member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and President of the Institute of International Studies of Shandong University, made a keynote speech. The conference invited experts from CASS, China Academy of International Studies, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shandong University, Fudan University, National Defense University, Shanghai University and other institutions.

The conference was divided into three sessions. The theme of the first unit was “China’s Diplomacy, Peripheral Security, South China Sea Situation and Maritime Cooperation in 2020”, presided over by Luo Jie, Deputy Editor of World Knowledge Press and President of World Knowledge Magazine. Ruan Zongze (Executive Vice President and Researcher of China Academy of International Studies), Yang Xiyu (Researcher of China Academy of International Studies), Hu Bo (Director of Peking University Marine Strategy Research Center), Sun Zhuangzhi (Center of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at CASS), Hu Shisheng (Director of the South Asian Research Institute of China Institute of Contemporary International Relations), Sun Xuefeng (Executive Deputy Dean of the Institute of International Relations of Tsinghua University), Zhang Jingquan (Deputy Dean of the Institute of International Studies and School of Northeast Asia Studies), respectively made presentations on their field of interest. The topics include “China’s Diplomacy in 2020 and Outlook for 2021”, “Overall Situation and External Relations of Korean Peninsula in 2020”, “Security Situation in South China Seaand Sino-US Game in 2020”, “The General Situation and External Relations of Eastern Europe and Central Asia in 2020”, “The US-China Game in 2020 and China’s Peripheral Security Strategy”, and “Marine Instability in the Eastern Seas of China”.

The Second session focused on “U.S. Issues, Global Security, Situations and Foreign Relations in Japan and Southeast Asia”. Professor Zhang Lijuan from School of Economics chaired this session, and Liu Weidong (Researcher at the Institute of American Studies, CASS), Zhao Minghao (Researcher at the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University), Xu Liping (Researcher at the Institute of Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy, CASS), Tang Yongsheng (Deputy Dean of the School of Security at National Defense University), Yang Bojiang (Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies at CASS), respectively gave presentations on “The 2020 election and the internal affairs of the United States under the epidemic”, “the US diplomacy and Sino-US relations in 2020”, “the overall situation of Southeast Asia in 2020”, “Global Strategic Security and Arms Control Situation”, and “Japan’s General Situation and Foreign Relations in 2020”.

The third session centered on “International Economic Governance, Russia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Its External Relations”, and was presided over by Professor Zhang Jingquan. Zhang Lijuan (Associate Dean of Institute of International Studies, Professor of School of Economics at Shandong University), Xing Guangcheng (Director of Chinese Institute of Borderland Studies, CASS), Cui Hongjian (Director of Center for European Studies at China Institute of International Studies), Tang Zhichao (Director of the Political Research Office of the Institute of West Asia and Africa, CASS, and of the Middle East Politics and Development Research Center), He Wenping (researcher of the Institute of West Asia and Africa, CASS, and China Africa Research Institute), Jiang Shixue (Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Shanghai University), respectively made presentations on “2020 Global Economic Situation: New Patterns and New Trends”, “Russia’s General Situation and Foreign Relations in 2020”, “Europe’s General Situation in 2020”, “Overall Situation and External Relations in the Middle East in 2020”, “Overall Situation and External Relations in Africa in 2020”, and “Overall Situation and External Relations in Latin America in 2020”.

After each session, experts and scholars conducted free discussions on key issues in each topic from the perspective of the current international situation. In the end, Zhang Shaohong, Editor-in-chief of World Knowledge Publishing House, summarized the meeting, and President Luo Jie presided over it. With the interaction of thoughts and opinions among the experts, the conference was completed successfully.