On the evening of September 10, 2025, the Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS), Peking University (PKU), successfully held the 89th session of the North Pavilion Seminar lecture series, titled “Building the World We Want to Live In”. The lecture was delivered by Mr. Daniel Russel, Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. It was moderated by Associate Professor Gui Yongtao, Vice President of IISS, PKU, and attended by more than 50 faculty members and students from both within and outside PKU.

At the beginning of the lecture, Mr. Russel pointed out that the world is undergoing profound turbulence: geopolitical frictions, economic decoupling, uncontrolled technological development, and climate change are all posing threats to human survival. He noted that China–U.S. relations are mired in a state of “comprehensive strategic competition,” with rising risks of conflict and a breakdown of dialogue mechanisms. Facing such severe challenges, he emphasized that all parties should not remain bystanders but shoulder their responsibilities for the common interests of humanity.

Mr. Russel then reviewed his experience participating in the formulation of Asia policy during the Obama administration and outlined the three pillars that underpinned the U.S. approach at the time. The first was cooperation — China and the United States maintained effective communication through the Strategic and Economic Dialogue and worked together on issues such as promoting the Paris Agreement and combating the Ebola epidemic. The second was firmness, as Mr. Russel elaborated on the U.S. concerns regarding regional hotspot issues. The third was clarity, emphasizing that high-level engagement and policy transparency can help reduce strategic misjudgments and prevent the worst possible outcomes.

Regarding current China–U.S. relations, Mr. Russel emphasized that both sides should avoid “strategic mimicry,” establish guardrails to prevent healthy competition from turning into hostile confrontation, and resume cooperation in areas such as public health, AI governance, and academic exchange. He encouraged the young audience to stay true to their ideals and work together to build a better world.

During the Q&A session, Mr. Russel engaged in an in-depth exchange with faculty members and students on topics including the effective governance of AI, the risks of China–U.S. conflict, the impact of China–U.S. competition on Southeast Asia and Africa, and the foreign strategy of the Trump administration. (Contributed by Fan Jiayuan)

Editor: Li Fangqi Photographer: Zheng Huaizhou