On the evening of September 30, 2022, the Institute of International & Strategic Studies (IISS), Peking University (PKU) held the 58th "North Pavilion Seminar" series lectures. Dr. Scott Kennedy, senior adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), gave a lecture titled "Ice-Breaking Journey: China-U.S. Relations from the Research Trip Experience of an American Scholar in East Asia ". The lecture was hosted by Gui Yongtao, Vice President of the IISS and Vice President of the SIS, PKU.

Dr. Scott Kennedy first shared the challenges he encountered and his initial feelings during his visit to China, as well as his thoughts on working under the pandemic. In recent years, personnel exchanges between China and the United States have been severely hindered due to the pandemic situation, and the communication and cooperation between the two peoples have been restricted and delayed, which has deepened mutual stereotypes and misunderstandings, and adversely affected the sound development of China-U.S. relations.

Dr. Scott Kennedy then analyzed Washington's current understanding of China. He pointed out that when talking about its relations with China, Washington is like a "closed conference room", which is largely separated from the academic circles and the wider international community. Not only do Washington and the western economic circles influenced by it have doubts, worries and misunderstandings about the principles and policies of China's reform and opening up, as well as the development direction and adjustment space of China's industrial policies, they are also worried about the state of interdependence and the level of mutual benefit among countries brought about by globalization. In view of this situation, Dr. Scott Kennedy suggested that Washington should further communicate with academic circles, analyze and discuss relevant doubts, and encourage the formation of new consensus on China-U.S. relations and China policy.

Finally, Dr. Scott Kennedy concluded that the current problems of China-U.S. relations can hardly be solved by official interaction alone. The hope for the sound development of China-U.S. relations lies in extensive personnel exchanges and communication to promote mutual understanding, and open the door of the "closed conference room" to let the external "wind" blow into policy discussions more.

During the Q&A session, Dr. Scott Kennedy had in-depth discussions with the teachers and students present at the lecture on issues such as the comparison of industrial policies between China and the U.S., U.S. technical control over China, China-U.S. economic and trade relations and international trade norms. (Contributed by Wang Runtan)

Editor: Li Fangqi   Photographer: Zheng Peijie