Time:2013/6/5 

In the afternoon of May 14th 2013, China Dream: Domestic and Foreign Policies under the New Leadership-An International Conference in Honor of Prof. Richard Baum was held at the School of International Studies, Peking University. American Studies Center Peking University, Institute for China-U.S. People to People Exchange Peking University and Center for International and Strategic Studies Peking University jointly sponsored this event, which was aim to in honor of celebrated sinologist Richard Baum, a Distinguished University Professor of University of California, Los Angeles. More than twenty Chinese and overseas scholars were invited to attend this conference.

Professor Richard Baum, one of the most influential China Studies experts in the U.S., taught at UCLA for 44 year, and directed UCLA Center for Chinese Studies between 1999 and 2005. As an authoritative China specialist with international fame, an advisor for Presidents George H. W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton, He was also widely respected in American foreign policy circle. He served on the editorial boards and wrote for many China Studies journals, among which were The China Quarterly and Journal of Contemporary China. He is a prolific writer with ten published academic monographs. His books about Chinese politics in Pre-reform and Deng Xiaoping era are prominent works in China Studies field. In 2010, His memoir, China Watcher: Confessions of a Peking Tom，was published, which attracted extensive attention and praise.

Professor Richard Baum devoted his life to China Studies. He traveled more than twenty provinces and cities in China, had touch with Chinese society deeply and widely. He was sympathetic for Chinese people and country. Since 2002, He had led UCLA students to teach English for local children in Qinghai Province. 

Professor Richard Baum’s great contribution to China Studies not only comes from his remarkable academic achievements, but also results from his contribution and leadership on academic community of China Studies. He initiated a large online academic network call Chinapol, whose members are more than 1300, from 27 countries and regions, covering China specialists from the world’s leading universities, senior government officials and media professionals. They hold discussion on China-related issues regularly, and play an important role in China Studies academia and policy-making. Professor Richard Baum passed away on December 14, 2012, at the age of 72.

Yuan Ming, Director of American Studies Center, Peking University and Dan Kritenbrink, Minister-Counselor of U.S. embassy in China, gave opening remarks for the conference. Professor Yuan Ming and Minister-Counselor Dan Kritenbrink highly praised the academic achievements and influence of Professor Richard Baum with great respect. Subsequently, Matthew A. Baum, son of Professor Richard Baum, Professor from Harvard Kennedy School, who was unable to attend this conference in person, reminisced about his father and expressed gratitude to all participants through a video.

The second part of the conference was In Memory of Professor Richard Baum. Five former students of Professor Richard Baum, including John Thompson, Professor Richard Baum’s friend, Director of the Beijing Center of University of California chaired this section. Zhang Xin, Research fellow from East China Normal University, Leif-Eric Easley, Associate Professor from Ewha Womans University, Wooyeal Paik, Associate Professor from Sungkyunkwan University, Stan Hok Wui Wong, Associate Professor from Chinese University of Hong Kong, Wang Dong, Associate Professor from School of International Studies, Peking University, reminisced about rigorous scholarship and guidance with great affection. 

Then, the conference moved on to academic discussion on the subject of “China Dream”. On behalf of Professor Richard Baum’ scholarly spirit and enthusiasm for China Studies, scholars gave speeches from economic agenda, domestic politics and foreign policy perspectives and discussed related issues.

Professor Zha Daojiong from School of International Studies, PKU, chaired the session of economic agenda. Professor Yao Yang from National School of Development, PKU talked about Trans -Pacific Partnership Agreement and China’s choice on whether to join it or not. Professor Wang Yong from School of International Studies, PKU, Director of Center for International Political Economy, spoke about Sino-U.S. Economic and Trade Relations and its future. Frank Hawke, Director of Greater China for Stanford University Graduate School of Business, introduced and analyzed the rise and decline of Sino-American joint venture.

Professor Zhang Haibin from School of International Studies, PKU, Director of Center for International Organization, chaired the session of domestic politics. David Zweig, Associate Dean of the School for Humanities and Social Science, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, reviewed the relations between leadership transition and domestic political and economic reform, and forecasted the future of reform under new generation of leaders. Professor Russell Leigh Moses, Dean of Academics and Faculty at the Beijing Center for Chinese Studies, discussed main agenda of reform under new leadership and domestic political meaning of “China Dream”. David Kelly, Research Director of “China Policy” analyzed the presentation of “China Dream” from the perspective of legitimacy, system consensus and value consensus.

The session of foreign policy was chaired by Professor Zhang Qingmin from School of International Studies, PKU. Professor Zhang Xiaoming from School of International Studies, PKU, Professor Wang Fan, Assistant Dean of China Foreign Affairs University, Senior Researcher Mathieu Duchatel, Head of SIPRI’s China and International Peace and Security Project, talked about the essence and impact of “China Dream” in foreign policy and international relations field.

At last, Professor Jia Qingguo, Associate Dean of School of International Studies, Executive Director of Institute for China-U.S. People to People Exchange gave closing remarks of the conference. Professor Jia Qingguo reminisced about years of friendship with Professor Richard Baum and spoke highly of Professor Richard Baum’s academic achievements and influence. Professor Jia Qingguo also thanked every participant for this successful conference.Professor Joan Kaufman, 

Director for Columbia Global Centers of East Asia, Dr. Jie Dalei from School of International Studies, PKU, and several doctoral students attended the discussion. Diplomats from the U.S. Embassy, the European Union Diplomatic Mission, the German Embassy, and the British Embassy in China, Bloomberg Business Week, National Public Radio, Strait Time and other foreign media attended and audited this conference.