Opening Remarks

Qu Yizhen, Zhang Haibin, and Zhang Jianguo delivered opening remarks, with Zhuang Junju presiding over the opening ceremony

At the opening ceremony, Qu Yizhen reflected on the development and accomplishments of Peking University’s Graduate Education Innovation Initiative and NAPSSIR. He noted that the growing number of participants testified to the symposium’s increasing influence and recognition. Qu emphasized the symposium’s role in fostering academic innovation, encouraging cross-university exchange, and nurturing an open and interdisciplinary scholarly environment. He also affirmed the School of International Studies’ achievements in talent development and encouraged participants to seize opportunities, pursue academic excellence, and contribute new insights to China’s international studies discipline.

Zhang Haibin expressed his sincere appreciation to the Graduate School of Peking University, the Charhar Institute, and all participating faculty and students. He highlighted the significance of this year’s theme— “Individuals, States, and Organizations in World Politics”—as a guiding framework for doctoral students to understand the evolving trajectory of China’s international studies discipline in the new era. Zhang stressed the need for scholarship that is both relevant to China’s diplomatic practice and responsive to technological changes shaping global politics. He described the symposium as a bridge between past and future and expressed hope that it would continue to strengthen the academic community through rigorous dialogue and intellectual exchange.

Zhang Jianguo reviewed the collaboration between the Charhar Institute, NAPSSIR, and young scholars across China. He emphasized that amid profound global changes, the symposium’s focus on “individuals, states, and organizations” contributes to both theoretical development and the practical advancement of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. He underlined the symposium’s value in promoting academic exchange, theoretical innovation, and international visibility. Zhang also introduced the Charhar Institute’s “Young Scholars Program” and announced that this year’s award recipients would be granted the honorary title of “Charhar Young Scholar.”

Venue photo 

Session One: Foreign Policy, Organizations, and Non-state Actors

The morning panels focused on “Individuals, Organizations, and State Foreign Policy” and “Non-state Actors and Transnational Public Policy.” Topics included U.S. Republican states’ sanctions on China, Rwanda’s tourism governance, U.S. bipartisan strategies toward China, Russia’s civil–military relations, Saudi–U.S. diplomacy, the American New Left, norm diffusion among international organizations, effectiveness of international organizations, overseas security provision by Chinese social organizations, international organizations’ resilience in reforms, public–private collaboration in climate governance, and global governance of marine plastic pollution.

Commentators included Zhao Kejin (Professor, Department of International Relations, Tsinghua University), Qi Haotian (Associate Professor, School of International Studies, Peking University), Wang Chong (Associate Editor, Shanghai People’s Publishing House), and Lai Huaxia (Assistant Professor, School of International Studies, Peking University).

Zhao Kejin noted the overall improvement in the quality of the papers and encouraged students to engage with cutting-edge scholarly debates, employ rigorous methods, and build clear analytical frameworks grounded in primary sources. Qi Haotian praised the clarity and innovative spirit of the submissions, while cautioning against uncritical reliance on Western theories and the disconnect between theory and empirical analysis. Wang Chong emphasized the importance of conceptual precision, theoretical depth, and methodological rigor from the perspective of academic publishing. Lai Huaxia commended the solid research design of the papers and highlighted areas for improvement, including tighter integration of literature and case studies and a clearer focus in research scope.

Zhao Kejin, Qi Haotian, Wang Chong, and Lai Huaxia offered comments

Session Two: Area Studies, Regional Dynamics, and Major-Power Relations

The afternoon panels explored a diverse range of topics, including ASEAN–GCC relations, Saudi identity diplomacy, India’s technological nationalism, India’s minilateralism, identity fragmentation in Central and Eastern Europe, Islamic revival in the Middle East, decoupling strategies of late-developing countries, U.S. withdrawals from international organizations, U.S. chip companies’ China policies, land–sea power competition, and the interaction between global supply chains and geopolitical risk.

Commentators included Zhao Chen (Senior Research Fellow, Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS), Li Wei (Professor, School of International Studies, Renmin University of China), and Lu Xiao (Assistant Professor, School of International Studies, Peking University).

Zhao Chen commended the papers for their innovative methods and cutting-edge topics and offered three suggestions: conduct a thorough review of existing literature, deepen theoretical dialogue, and construct more robust analytical frameworks. Li Wei emphasized the need for compelling narratives and clear research questions, cautioning against excessive conceptual abstraction. Lu Xiao encouraged the students to cultivate “problem awareness” and “reader awareness,” stressing the importance of relevance, clarity, and methodological rigor.

Zhao Chen, Li Wei, and Lu Xiao provided feedback

Session Three: Culture, Ideology, and Cross-Border Political Trends &Technological Transformation and International Security

Twelve students presented on topics including gender politics, U.S. neoconservatism, Islamic influences in Malaysian diplomacy, narrative deconstruction, U.S. psychological warfare toward Japan in the 1950s, sociocultural drivers of the U.S. AI revolution, nuclear order, AI governance, military modeling, war economies, alliance evolution, and border disputes.

Commentators included Li Yingtao (Professor, School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Yuan Zhengqing (Senior Research Fellow, Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS), and Liu Lu (Assistant Professor, School of International Studies, Peking University).

Li Yingtao praised the analytical depth of the papers and encouraged students to strengthen the empirical grounding of their arguments and enhance the external validity of their findings. Yuan Zhengqing emphasized the importance of tracing conceptual origins, identifying theoretical gaps, and engaging with dynamic international realities through comparative and case-sensitive analysis.
Liu Lu highlighted the need to integrating theory with empirical evidence and to return to the core theoretical contribution in the concluding analysis to deepen scholarly impact.

Li Yingtao, Yuan Zhengqing, and Liu Lu shared their observations

 Group photo of the forum

Awards

Following anonymous evaluation and voting by the Academic Committee, the symposium awarded one First Prize, two Second Prizes, and four Third Prizes. Zhang Haibin and Zhao Mei (Senior Research Fellow, Institute of American Studies, CASS; Deputy Editor-in-Chief, American Studies Quarterly) presented the First, Second, and Third Prizes.

Zhang Haibin and Zhao Mei presented certificates to the award-winning students

Ke Yinbin (Deputy Director, Academic Committee, Charhar Institute; Senior Research Fellow) and Qian Xuemei (Professor, School of International Studies, Peking University; Associate Editor, Journal of International Studies) presented the “Charhar Young Scholar” certificates.

Ke Yinbin and Qian Xuemei awarded certificates to the winning students.

Closing Ceremony

At the closing ceremony on 23 November, Qian Xuemei delivered the closing remarks, with Zhuang Junju presiding. Qian praised the intellectual vitality and scholarly rigor demonstrated throughout the symposium, highlighted the promise of young scholars in advancing the field of international studies in China, and expressed hope that the symposium would continue to serve as a platform for academic exchange and community building.

Qian Xuemei delivered the closing remarks

Submission and Selection

This year’s symposium received more than 190 paper submissions from doctoral students at 50 universities in China and abroad. Following a process of anonymous review, 35 papers from 20 universities were selected for presentation.

Since its establishment, NAPSSIR has received strong support from Peking University’s Graduate Education Innovation Initiative. Co-initiated by the Department of Degree Management & Postgraduate Education (Office of the State Council Academic Degrees Committee) under the Ministry of Education, and jointly hosted by the Graduate School of Peking University and the School of International Studies, the symposium has been successfully held 17 times. It aims to provide a platform for outstanding doctoral students in international studies and international politics across the country to exchange ideas, broaden their academic horizon, and contribute to the growth of the discipline.

This year’s symposium was co-hosted by the Graduate School of Peking University, the School of International Studies, the editorial board of The Journal of International Studies, and the Charhar Institute.

List of Prize Winners of the 18th National PhD Student Symposium on International Relations  

First Prize

Zhang Shuibei (Tsinghua University) — Transcending the Developmental State: Selective Embeddedness of the Rwandan Government in Tourism Development

Second Prize

Zhu Yimin (Peking University) — Legitimizing Action, Expanding Functions, and the Differentiated Overseas Security Provision Models of Chinese Social Organizations

Lyu Huiyi (Tsinghua University) — The Anchor of Reality: Key Facts and the Decline of the “Chinese Debt Trap” Strategic Narrative

Third Prize

Song Yue (University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) — Cultural Drivers and National Narratives of the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Revolution

Chen Han (Peking University) — The Predicament and Roots of the Contemporary American New Left

Ma Shuteng (Peking University) — Imitation, Grafting, and Competition: Mechanisms of Norm Diffusion among International Organizations

Wang Yinxiao (National University of Defense Technology) — Costs of Interdependence? The Dynamic Interaction between Global Supply Chain Pressure and Geopolitical Risks

 

Written by: Zhu Yimin, Qi Shiqian
Photos by: Lyu Ziyan, Wang Huiyi
Edited by: Wang Haimei
Source: SIS News(Chinese)