Jointly hosted by the Institute for China & World Studies and the School of Political Science & International Relations (SPSIR) of Tongji University, the Marxism Department of the Social Sciences in China Press (SSCP), the editorial departments of CASS Journal of Political Science and World Economics and Politics, and the Liberal Arts Office of Tongji University, and co-organized by the Institute for China & World Studies and SPSIR, the 1st Youth Forum on China & World Studies was held in Tongji University on December 3, 2016. Professor Ma Jinming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tongji University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. The opening ceremony was moderated by Tongji Distinguished Professor Men Honghua, President of the Institute for China & World Studies and Dean of SPSIR.

Themed Research on Major Issues of China’s Governance, this high-end forum brought together more than 30 young experts and scholars from Tongji University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Renmin University of China (RUC), China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Jilin University, Xiamen University, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL), China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Osaka Sangyo University of Japan and other institutions. From different disciplinary perspectives, the guests analyzed a number of domestic and international issues of great strategic significance that have emerged in the process of China’s rise. They have jointly painted an academic picture with both breadth and depth based on their cutting-edge research results and interdisciplinary knowledge.

This forum was composed of four breakout sessions themed, respectively, Theoretical Vision of Governance and Strategy, International Dimensions of Governance and Strategy, Global Governance, China, and International Institutional Building, and Chinese Perspective on Governance and Strategy, where the participants delivered wonderful speeches and comments.

Professor Men Honghua moderated the first session themed Theoretical Vision of Governance and Strategy. Professor Sun Jisheng, Vice President of CFAU, analyzed the differences between the Chinese discourse at domestic and abroad from the perspectives of discourse, national image and external publicity, along with suggestions on how to improve the Chinese discourse and enhance China’s national image in the world. Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Studies of RUC, had a brief review of the power shift theory, followed by a rational analysis of the paradigm, concept and logic of the theory, and revelation of its core viewpoints and logic flaws. Bo Yan, a professor at the School of International Relations & Public Affairs of Fudan University, used the principle and rule theoretical framework to analyze the significance of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” (CBDR-RC) principle in the Paris Agreement and the new changes in its application. Liu Zhiyun, a professor at the Law School of Xiamen University, positioned China’s national interests and explored the diplomatic connection between national interests and international law issues. Zhong Zhenming, an associate professor at SPSIR, elaborated on the wedge strategy and its counterbalance effectiveness, and pointed out that the wedge strategy can be used by a country to divide potential rivals and form an opposing coalition, thereby enhancing the relative power of that country. Dr. Chung Young-june, an assistant professor at SPSIR, used the scientific philosophy of nonlinear theory as a metaphor to provide the original theoretical basis for changing the fixed concepts and analytical framework of existing strategic studies, as well as the necessity and rationality of paradigm shift in strategic studies. This session was commented by Professor Sun Xuefeng, Executive Deputy Dean of the Institute of International Relations of Tsinghua University. Based on his academic experience, he emphasized the importance of research on the international political theory at present and in the future, and called for paying attention to theory, and returning to theory.

With a focus on International Dimensions of Governance and Strategy, the second session was moderated by Professor Wang Bingquan, Director of the Editorial Department of CASS Journal of Political Science. Professor Sun Degang, Deputy Director of the Middle East Studies Institute of SISU, introduced the strategic adjustment of US military bases in the Middle East after the Cold War. Yan Jian, an associate researcher and the assistant to the director at China Center for Global Governance and Development (CCGGD) of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, discussed the close connection among the difficulties in the construction of African countries, the organization mode of indigenous societies and their historical evolution in the postcolonial period. Cai Liang, an associate researcher at the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies of SIIS, explained the specific meaning and expression of historical revisionism in the Japanese context, saying that Shinzo Abe's act to reshuffle his cabinet twice had exerted an important influence on the generation of such climate and currents. Song Lilei, an associate professor at SPSIR, made a comprehensive analysis and observation of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative of the EU from the perspectives of intention, advancement and problems. Dr. Lyu Rui, a lecturer at SPSIR, discussed the strategic choices and role of Germany in the NATO expansion, believing that Germany after the Cold War has become an advocate of NATO's eastward enlargement policy. At the end of this session, Professor Wang Zhen, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of CNPC and a doctoral supervisor at the Academy of Chinese Energy Strategy (ACES) of China University of Petroleum (Beijing), commented on the speeches from the perspective of energy strategy, and proposed that China should become a participant in and a builder of the international system on the basis of an in-depth understanding of the international rules.

Moderated by Li Fang, Director of the Marxism Department of Social Sciences in China Press (SSCP), the third session discussed Global Governance, China, and the International Institution Building. Researcher Hu Jian, President and Editor-in-Chief of SSCP, pointed out that when observing the cooperation basis of the Belt and Road Initiative, the most important thing is to examine the innovation capability of the core countries along the route, because only innovation can lay the foundation for long-term cooperation and drive sustainable development. Professor Sun Xuefeng, Executive Deputy Dean of the Institute of International Relations of Tsinghua University, pointed out that China is currently facing a dilemma as it is growing stronger itself and expanding its sphere of interests, leading to principal contradictions in security terms. To relieve such contradictions, China must attach full importance to the balance between its periphery strategy and its relations with the United States. Professor Liu Hongsong, Vice Dean of the School of International and Diplomatic Affairs of SISU, used the concept of political opportunity to give a theoretic explanation of China's practice of proposing policy initiatives and incorporating its own preferences into the G20 political consensus. Guo Rui, a professor at the School of Public Administration of Jilin University, said that the relative backward soft power is standing in the way of China’s peaceful rise, which needs to be analyzed and resolved from the perspectives of assimilation, normalization and influence. Li Wei, an associate professor at the School of International Studies of RUC, pointed out that whether the direction of the international institutional competition between China and the US, to improve governance or exacerbate governance failure, depends on the bilateral, regional and global institutional interactions between China and the US. Associate researcher Zhong Feiteng, Head of the Department of Great Power Relations Studies at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (NIIS CASS), pointed out as two major measures to rebuild an international environment conducive to China’s development, the Belt and Road Initiative and building a new type of great power relations should be taken into consideration together. In the comment session, CFAU Vice President Professor Sun Jisheng shared her views on global governance, for instance, China has changed from a “dependent variable” to an “independent variable” on the international stage, and China has also contributed its concepts, policies and solutions.

Moderated by researcher Hu Jian, President and Editor-in-Chief of SSCP, the fourth session focused on Chinese Perspective on Governance and Strategy. Professor Wang Zhen, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of CNPC, introduced the strategic importance of natural gas in promoting clean and low-carbon utilization of energy, and proposed strategic choices for vigorously developing non-fossil energy. Li Zhen, a professor at the School of Marxism of Tongji University, pointed out that there are more complex ambiguities in today’s ism politics than that in Marx’s era, and these ambiguities can even permeate each other. Bao Gangsheng, an associate professor at the School of International Relations & Public Affairs of Fudan University, pointed out that as political deadlock is neglected in the liberal political theory, it is necessary to further explore the theoretical resources that can explain, prevent and resolve political deadlocks and political crises in the liberal theoretical traditions. Huang Qixuan, an associate professor at the School of International and Public Affairs of SJTU, pointed out that China’s capital account liberalization has triggered concerns about financial security, so China should be more cautious and give priority to fixed exchange rate and monetary policy autonomy. Sun Lei, an associate professor at SPSIR, based on Liang Shuming's constitutional thought and practice, pointed out that China can only blaze a path superior to Western modern democracy by sticking to the vision of Chinese civilization and deeply studying Western constitutional traditions.

After the four sessions, the forum opened the floor for discussion, which was moderated by Professor Wang Jingbin, Head of the Department of Economics of Osaka Sangyo University. This session saw the collision of ideas among young scholars and experts with active mind. On the one hand, they expressed their views on major issues related to China’s governance, and on the other hand, they had a brilliant cross-disciplinary communication. This has highlighted the strategic height and theoretical depth of this forum, and also provided many constructive suggestions on the following forums.

At the closing ceremony, Director Wang Bingquan, Director Li Fang, Professor Liu Zhiyun, and Dean Men Honghua delivered speeches in turn. 

Director Wang Bingquan spoke highly of the first Youth Forum on China & World Studies which is thought-provoking and rewarding. It is necessary to recognize the research results of young scholars and pay more attention to and give more support to the growth of young scholars, he believed. Then, Director Li Fang summarized the characteristics and value of three kinds of papers that are focused on knowledge, criticism and thought respectively, and expected the young scholars to: 1) take a rigorous attitude to ensure the accuracy of information in writing knowledge-focused papers; 2) try to write more criticism-focused papers because the academic research capabilities of scholars are usually reflected by their criticism level; 3) be vigilant about their inherent tendencies inconsistent with the scientific spirit in selecting academic materials, so as to minimize the negative impact on academic research; 4) continue to focus on China's most important political subjects, so as to write solid and valuable academic papers. Professor Liu Zhiyun, a top young talent recognized by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech on behalf of the participating young scholars. He said that he was honored to participate in the 1st Youth Forum on China & World Studies and expressed his sincere gratitude to the hosts for their efforts and support. He pointed out that this forum was a successful and fruitful event that gathered talents and ideas. Next, based on his own research on international relations and international law for more than ten years, Professor Liu called on the experts and students present to pay more attention to interdisciplinary research, and better combine theory with strategy in an interactive academic atmosphere. 

Finally, on behalf of the host, Professor Men Honghua spoke highly of the fruitful results of this forum, expressed his gratitude to the experts and scholars present for their support to Tongji University, and thanked everyone for their support to the Institute for China & World Studies and the School of Political Science & International Relations. As a newborn strategic studies institute and a young school, it was our honor to get support from the academic elites. We appreciated the great efforts of every participant for this forum.