Yan Xuetong is a Distinguished Professor at Tsinghua University and Honorary President of its Institute of International Relations (TUIIR). A leading figure in the “Chinese School of International Relations,” he is recognized as the founder of the theory of moral realism in international relations. From 2012 to 2023, he served as Secretary-General of the World Peace Forum, China's first high-level international security forum initiated by a non-governmental institution. Previously, he was President of TUIIR and Chief Editor of The Chinese Journal of International Politics. His research has significantly influenced global debates on international relations. Yan has authored numerous books, including Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power (2013), Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers (2019), and The Essence of Interstate Leadership (2023). He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.