On June 18, 2025, the Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS), Peking University (PKU) held a seminar at North Pavilion titled “Lessons from the Cold War to Avoid a ‘New Cold War’: The International Situation and International Order on the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the World Anti-Fascist War”.

The following distinguished guests attended the seminar : Chu Xiaobo, Dean of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences, PKU, and Professor at the School of International Studies (SIS), PKU; Fan Jishe, Vice President of and Professor at the Institute for International Strategic Studies, Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance); Fan Shiming, Associate Dean of the Yenching Academy of PKU, and Professor at SIS, PKU; Jin Xueli, Senior Editor at Yunnan People’s Publishing House; Kong Shengnan, Editor at Imaginist; Li Danhui, Professor at the Institute for Studies of China's Neighboring Countries and Regions, East China Normal University; Ni Feng, Director and Research Fellow at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Niu Ke, Associate Professor at the Department of History, PKU; Niu Jun, Professor at SIS, PKU; Shen Zhihua, Tenured Professor at the Department of History, East China Normal University; Tang Shiqi, Dean and Professor at SIS, PKU; Tao Wenzhao, Honorary Member of the Academic Division of the CASS and Research Fellow at the Institute of American Studies, CASS; Wang Dong, Deputy Dean of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences, PKU, and Professor at SIS, PKU; Zhang Baijia, former Deputy Director of the Party History Research Center of the CPC Central Committee; Zhang Qingmin, Professor at SIS, PKU; and Zhang Xiaoming, Professor at SIS, PKU.

Researchers from IISS, PKU attending the seminar included: Guan Guihai, Executive Vice President of IISS and Associate Professor at SIS, PKU; Gui Yongtao, Vice President of IISS, Associate Dean, and Associate Professor at SIS, PKU; Jie Dalei, Associate Professor at the SIS, PKU; Lei Shaohua, Associate Professor at SIS, PKU; Li Chen, Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China; Qian Xuemei, Professor at SIS, PKU; Wang Jisi, Founding President of IISS and Professor at SIS, PKU; Yu Tiejun, President of IISS and Professor at SIS, PKU; Yuan Ming, Honorary Dean of the Yenching Academy, PKU, and Professor at SIS, PKU; Zhai Kun, Professor at SIS, PKU; and Zhu Wenli, Professor at SIS, PKU.

The morning session centered on “The Story of the Cold War”, the new book by Professor Wang Jisi. The session was moderated by Professor Yu Tiejun, President of IISS, PKU. At the outset, Professor Wang delivered the keynote speech. Guests including Zhang Baijia, Tao Wenzhao, Yuan Ming, Tang Shiqi, Jin Xueli, Kong Shengnan, Shen Zhihua, Li Danhui, Niu Jun, Zhang Xiaoming, Niu Ke, Wang Dong, and Li Chen shared their views on key issues in Cold War studies, as well as the academic contributions and contemporary significance of “The Story of the Cold War”.

The afternoon session focused on the topic of the current international situation and international order with the two panels chaired respectively by Gui Yongtao, Vice President of IISS, and Guan Guihai, Executive Vice President of IISS. Keynote speeches were delivered by Zhu Wenli, Zhai Kun, Qian Xuemei, Guan Guihai, Gui Yongtao, Lei Shaohua, and Jie Dalei, while Chu Xiaobo, Ni Feng, Fan Jishe, Zhang Qingmin, and Fan Shiming served as commentators. Participants held in-depth discussions on issues, including the international economic situation, developments in Southeast Asia, the India–Pakistan conflict, Russian diplomacy, major-power foreign economic policies, U.S. policy toward China under the Trump administration, and comparisons between the Cold War and a potential “new Cold War.”

Editor: Li Fangqi

Photographer: Zheng Huaizhou