On Monday, 17th October 2016, the Yenching Academy of Peking University, in partnership with ThinkIN China, hosted a workshop to debate one of the most important bilateral relations in today’s world, that between China and Japan, two major players in the international arena and key actors in the East Asian region.
The event saw the participation of two renowned guests. The workshop started with a lecture by Professor Janet Xuanli Liao, Senior Lecturer in Energy and Climate Diplomacy at the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee. Professor Liao obtained a Ph.D in International Relations from the University of Hong Kong, an MA in International Relations at the University of Japan, and holds a BA and MA in History from Peking University. Her current research interests include Chinese think tanks and China’s foreign policy-making, Sino-Japanese political/energy relations, China’s Energy diplomacy, Chinese NOC’s and government relationship, and China and Japan’s climate change policy. She held several teaching and research positions in China, Japan, UK and Sweden.
After the lecture, Professor He Yafei, a senior Chinese diplomat and currently Distinguished Professor at the Yenching Academy, opened the discussion by sharing his views on the current state and future prospects of the bilateral relation, drawing on his extensive knowledge and first-hand experience as a diplomat. During his career, Professor He worked in the Secretariat of the United Nations in New York City, the PRC’s embassy in the United States of America, served as Assistant Foreign Minister and then Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, held the positions of Ambassador of China in the U.N. Offices in Geneva and Deputy Director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council. Several Yenching Scholars joined the discussion and had the opportunity to engage in fruitful debate with the two guests, in an informal and stimulating environment.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Academy and ThinkIN China thanks to a group of Yenching Scholars who are also part of the organization: Beba Cibralic, Rebecca Arcesati, Thiago Bessimo and Sofia Ferigolli.
ThinkIN China is an intellectual community created in September 2010 by a small group of young researchers who live and work in China. It is conceived to be a genuine space of reflection, discussion and dialogue about China in the heart of China’s academic crossroad in Wudaokou, Bejing, where TIC organizes monthly lectures with the participation of knowledgeable local experts and lively interaction of the audience to foster intellectual growth and fruitful exchange of ideas. TIC is on WeChat, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. TIC’s website is: http://www.thinkinchina.asia/
