On the afternoon of Oct. 12, 2016, the release conference and symposium of China International Strategy Review 2016 organized by the Institute of International & Strategic Studies (IISS), Peking University (PKU) was held at the North Pavilion of PKU. People in attendance include authors of China International Strategy Review 2016, prestigious experts and scholars from several teaching and research organizations including Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), People’s Liberation Army Naval Military Studies Research Institute, etc., and representatives from the press including Xinhua News Agency, World Affairs Press, Foreign Languages Press, China Daily, Global Times （English Version）, The Paper, Phoenix New Media, etc.

The conference was hosted by GUI Yongtao, Assistant President of IISS, PKU and Associate Professor from the School of International Studies (SIS), PKU. The conference started with a brief introduction to the edit and publication of China International Strategy Review, which was given by WANG Jisi, President of IISS, PKU, YUAN Ming, Senior Editor, World Affairs Press, and YANG Chunyan, Editorial Director, Foreign Languages Press. Following the introduction is an in-depth discussion on issues themed on the U.S. presidential election and Sino-American relations, global governance, the South China Sea issue, China’s diplomacy with neighboring countries, the Middle East issue, etc. On the issue of “American presidential election and Sino-American relations”, ZHU Wenli, Senior Research Fellow of IISS, PKU, and Professor of SIS, PKU, pointed out that the drama of this year’s the U.S. presidential election stems from both Parties’ failure to come up with an effective solution to the economic inequality, social differentiation and political polarization generated by the complicated development of globalization, which promotes the mobilization of marginal political force and the rise of non-traditional political figures. WANG Jisi held that the development of Sino-American relations goes along with how the two countries solve their own domestic problems, while the presidential change has very limited impact on the development of the relations. NI Feng, Deputy Director, Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the foreign policy of this year’s election focuses on Russia and Syria instead of China. 

On the issue of “global governance”, WANG Yong, Professor of SIS, PKU, stressed that in terms global governance, China should be bold to assume the corresponding international obligations and responsibilities in accordance with its own capabilities. ZHA Daojiong, Professor of SIS, PKU, contended that China should adhere to the principle of “mutual benefit” in dealing with global affairs. 

On the issue of “South China Sea”, ZHANG Wei, Research Fellow, People’s Liberation Army Naval Military Studies Research Institute, stated that China and U.S. should continue to strengthen risk control on “freedom of navigation”. HU Bo, Research Fellow, Institute of Ocean Research, PKU, claimed that China should try to keep balance between sovereignty right and the principle of maritime freedom when dealing with marine issues. 

On the issue of “China’s diplomacy with neighboring countries”, ZHAI Kun, Senior Research Fellow of IISS, PKU and Professor of SIS, PKU, opined that China should take into account the ability of the neighboring small and medium-sized countries to accept geo-strategy.  XU Bo, Senior Editor, World Affairs magazine, claimed that China is still in the process of learning how to deal with the relations with its neighboring countries. The current development is still enslaved to China’s one-sided thought on some countries shaped in the past. 

On the issue of “Middle East”, WU Bingbing, Senior Research Fellow of IISS, PKU, and Associate Professor of the School of Foreign Languages, PKU, pointed out that the Middle East issue is enslaved to the influence of “Failed States”, lack of cooperation mechanism, and limitation of cooperation between big countries, while the multi-stratification of Syria issue needs more attention, such as confrontation between American and Russia, competition between big countries in the region, and conflict among different local forces. QIAN Xuemei, Senior Research Fellow of IISS, PKU, and Associate Professor of School of International Studies, PKU, held that the current war situation in Syria would be maintained by big countries. However, in the long run, it is worth reflecting on how to build the new order and who will benefit from the new order. 

The release conference and symposium was concluded with asks and answers between the press and scholars. Participants carried out a heated discussion on the change of international situation of the year as well as opportunities and challenges China’s diplomacy is faced with. The conference was successfully wrapped up with anticipated result. 

As a main publication of IISS, PKU, China International Strategy Review has strived to be objective, composed, pragmatic and professional since its inception in 2008. It mainly works to track, analyze, and comment the major changes in international strategic situation in the form of annual report, which is well acclaimed by the audience from both at home and abroad. 

World Affairs Press is in charge of the publishing of the Chinese version of China International Strategy Review. From 2012, the English version has been published each year, which is under the charge of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration and Foreign Languages Press.