From July 10 to 11, 2023, the Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS), Peking University (PKU) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) jointly hosted the first-stage meeting of the project titled "Rebuilding U.S.-China Scholarly Exchange: A Two-way International Conference" at the North Pavilion of PKU. Under the project academic meetings in both Beijing and Washington take place during the second half of 2023, inviting renowned scholars and think tank experts from various fields in the humanities and social sciences from China and the U.S. to come together to discuss how to rebuild and enhance academic exchange and cooperation between China and the U.S.

The first-stage meeting received strong support from the Ministry of Education, the leadership of Peking University, and the Office of International Relations, PKU. Wang Bo, Vice President of PKU, attended and the conference and delivered opening remarks. Xu Bu, President of the China Institute of International Studies, Wang Jisi, Founding President of the IISS and Professor at the School of International Studies (SIS), PKU, and Prof. Yuan Ming, Honorary Dean of the Yenching Academy of PKU, attended the conference and delivered speeches.

In his speech, PKU Vice President Wang Bo pointed out that academic exchanges between China and the U.S. have always been very close, with the most in-depth interactions occurring among teachers and students. There is a long-standing friendship and cooperation between teachers of the two countries. For young people in both countries, expanding their horizons is crucial. Only by stepping into another country can they avoid a stereotypical understanding. His encouragement was "stay true to yourself and get together. Together we become a better version of ourselves." This applies to students, universities, and countries alike. This year marks PKU's “Global Engagement Year.” In the first half of the year alone, PKU has sent 15 delegations to various parts of the world. In the second half of the year, university-level delegations will pay visits to several American universities. Academic exchanges are crucial for a more profound reflection on China-U.S. relations and the world order. PKU has always adhered to the spirit of "openness and inclusiveness." Starting from PKU and higher education institutions, the goal is not only to restore but also to consolidate and expand China-U.S. academic exchanges.

Participants focused on exploring the development of universities and think tanks in China and the U.S., the current situation of China-U.S. academic cooperation, and the opportunities and challenges facing China-U.S. academic research, exchange, and cooperation. Participants unanimously agreed that in recent years, China-U.S. academic exchanges and cooperation have consolidated achievements and made progress in some aspects. At the same time, considerations of national security in the context of China-U.S. competition, internal changes in both countries, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have posed new challenges to academic research, exchange, and cooperation between the two countries. Scholars from both countries belong to the same academic community and, in the face of common opportunities and challenges, there is an urgent need to restore and increase exchanges and visits between scholars and students and promote the institutionalization of China-U.S. academic exchanges. Participants put forward many valuable suggestions on how universities and think tanks in both countries can promote China-U.S. academic research, exchange, and cooperation, covering research methods, research agendas, and interactions with the policy community.

The 12 U.S. guests invited to this conference were: Alastair Iain Johnston, Professor in the Government Department, Harvard University; Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, CSIS; Shanjun Li, Professor of Applied Economics and Policy in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University; Ethan Michelson, Professor of Sociology and Law, Indiana University Bloomington; Stephen R. Platt, Professor of modern Chinese history, University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Daniel Rosen, Co-founder of the Rhodium Group; Scott Rozelle, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University; Deborah Seligsohn, Assistant Professor of political science, Villanova University; Matt Sheehan, Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Jessica C. Teets, Professor of Political Science, Middlebury College; and Jessica Chen Weiss, Michael J. Zak Professor for China and Asia-Pacific Studies, Cornell University. The delegation of U.S. scholars was led by Dr. Scott Kennedy.

The Chinese guests attending the conference were: Da Wei, the Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) and Professor of Department of International Relations, School of Social Science, Tsinghua University; Dai Xin, Vice Dean and Associate Professor (with tenure) of PKU Law School; Niu Ke, Associate Professor (with tenure) at Department of History, PKU; Wang Yong, Professor at the SIS, PKU; Wu Chunsi, Director of the Institute for International Strategic and Security Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS); Xie Tao, Professor and Dean of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Beijing Foreign Studies University; Xu Qinyi, Assistant Professor, School of International Relations, PKU; Yao Yang, Liberal Arts Chair Professor at the China Center for Economic Research (CCER) and Dean of the National School of Development (NSD), PKU; Zhang Ran, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Education, PKU; Zhao Minghao, Professor at the Center for American Studies, the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University; and Zhu Feng, Professor and Executive Dean of School of International Studies, Nanjing University. IISS President Yu Tiejun, Executive Vice President Guan Guihai, Vice President Gui Yongtao, Senior Research Fellow Jie Dalei, Lei Shaohua, and Qi Haotian also attended the conference.

IISS, PKU was officially founded in October 2013. Under the leadership of PKU and relying on the rich intellectual resources of the SIS and other relevant faculties and departments of PKU, the institute aims to promote the development of academic research and policy research related to world politics, international security and global strategy, etc. It is committed to providing intellectual support for China’s decision-making on international strategy and foreign policy as well as teaching services in related disciplines. IISS has established close cooperation with well-known think tanks, universities, and research institutions at home and abroad.

It maintains a solid and long-term cooperative relationship with the CSIS and is committed to jointly promoting academic exchanges between China and the U.S. Founded in 1962, CSIS is the largest domestic research organization on international issues in the U.S. It is bipartisan, non-profit, and dedicated to advancing practical ideas to address the world’s greatest challenges.

The project of "Rebuilding U.S.-China Scholarly Exchange: A Two-way International Conference" is co-sponsored by the IISS, PKU and the CSIS, with the aim of providing a platform for in-depth face-to-face communication and exchange visits between university scholars and think tank experts from China and the U.S. In October 2023, a delegation of Chinese scholars will travel to Washington, D.C. for the second-stage meeting of the project.

Editor: Li Fangqi, photography: Zheng Peijie