On November 3, 2023, the International Relations Sub-Forum of the Beijing Forum (2023) convened successfully in the Sunlight Hall of the Yingjie Exchange Center at Peking University. Under the theme “International Cooperation and Global Governance in an Age of Uncertainty,” the sub-forum brought together renowned experts and scholars from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia at Yanyuan. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the challenges faced by international cooperation and global governance in an uncertain era and examined strategies for addressing them, while jointly reflecting on the turbulent world situation and the future prospects of humankind.
Opening Ceremony
Distinguished attendees at the opening ceremony included: An Yufeng, Deputy Director of the University Council of Peking University; Pan Jiang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the National Development and Reform Commission; Wang Fan, President of the China Foreign Affairs University; Yang Guangbin, Dean of the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China; Gao Zugui, Dean of the Institute of International Strategy, Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC; Feng Zhongping, Director of the Institute of European Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Ren Minghui, former Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization and Dean of the Institute for Global Health, Peking University; Jia Lieying, Dean of the School of International Studies, Beijing Language and Culture University; Chen Qi, Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic and Security Studies, Tsinghua University; Tang Shiqi, Dean of the School of International Studies, Peking University; Chu Xiaobo, Party Secretary of the School; Dong Zhaohua, Vice Dean; Zhang Qingmin, Deputy Chair of the Academic Committee and Chair of the Department of Diplomacy; Pang Xun, Director of the Political Analysis of Global Risks Laboratory and Professor at the School; Liu Lianlian, Associate Professor; Assistant Professors Chen Muyang and Xu Qinyi; Arancha González, Dean of the School of International Affairs at Sciences Po; Philippe Rheault, Director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta, and Deputy Director Wang Jia; Dai Xinyuan, Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Chu Jangmin, Chief Research Fellow at the Korea Environment Institute; Benjamin Goldsmith, Professor at the Australian National University; and Tobias Berger, Assistant Professor at Freie Universität Berlin, among others. More than 150 students from universities at home and abroad, along with participants from various sectors of society, also joined the forum. The opening ceremony was chaired by Zhang Haibin, Vice Dean of the School of International Studies, Peking University.
Speaking on behalf of Peking University, An Yufeng delivered the opening address. He first extended sincere congratulations on the convening of the sub-forum and warmly welcomed scholars from around the world. He pointed out that the world is undergoing profound and turbulent changes unseen in a century, with international relations marked by significantly heightened uncertainty. It is urgent, he stressed, to take collective global action and strengthen international mutual trust and cooperation. In the face of increasingly complex global challenges, China remains committed to promoting, strengthening, and improving the global governance system, and to practicing genuine multilateralism. He emphasized that the School of International Studies at Peking University has long adhered to innovation while staying grounded in its traditions, making steady progress in teaching, research, and public service. In recent years, on the basis of its established academic strengths, the School has pioneered the first-level discipline of National Security Studies and the second-level discipline of International Organizations and International Public Policy, achieving notable accomplishments in frontier research on international issues and the cultivation of global governance talent, thereby contributing to the “Double First-Class” initiative at Peking University. He expressed hope that the School would use this forum as an opportunity to further deepen international academic exchange, collaborate with renowned institutions and influential think tanks worldwide, and build a high-level scholarly community in international studies, thus writing a new chapter in the University’s global academic engagement.
Tang Shiqi, in his address, noted that the theme of this forum reflects a deep concern with the profound adjustments and transformations underway in international relations. He argued that since the dawn of civilization, humanity has always been caught in a paradox: while increasing levels of organization and rapid technological progress provide conditions for creating new orders, they also contain destructive potential that may undermine all forms of order and even civilization itself. Humanity must therefore fundamentally rethink and profoundly adjust the relationships between individuals and between humanity and nature. Addressing the dilemmas of global governance requires both conceptual and institutional innovation: on the one hand, building trust and understanding, deepening a sense of community, and making human common security the foundation of all endeavors; on the other, strengthening and innovating mechanisms of communication, consultation, and coordination among states, non-state actors, and multiple stakeholders, transcending state-centrism and unilateralism, and fostering a cosmopolitan spirit of mutual benefit, understanding, and compromise to construct an inclusive and reciprocal global governance system. He concluded by highlighting the establishment of the Political Analysis of Global Risks Laboratory at Peking University in May 2023, which integrates multidisciplinary perspectives and cross-disciplinary methods to advance collaborative, cutting-edge research on global risks and to seek innovative digital governance solutions. He welcomed more like-minded colleagues to participate in this initiative, in service of national, societal, and individual security and well-being in an age of profound uncertainty.
In his remarks, Pan Jiang focused on two central issues: the “connotation and characteristics of uncertainty” and “how best to pursue international cooperation and participate in global governance in uncertain times.” He observed that while international uncertainty has always existed since World War II, in recent years “black swan” and “gray rhino” events in politics, economics, and technology have become more frequent and intense. Transformations of the world, of the times, and of history are unfolding in unprecedented ways, with uncertainty emerging as a defining feature of the international situation. Three aspects are especially noteworthy: first, rising uncertainty has been accompanied by a slowdown in global economic growth; second, it reflects the increasingly multipolar nature of diverse interest claims; third, there is a growing risk that uncertainty may shift from a short-term phenomenon to a long-term trend. He stressed that every country must grapple with the question of how to conduct international cooperation and engage in global governance under such conditions. The answer, he suggested, lies in upholding three principles: a governance philosophy of consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits to promote solidarity against division; a development philosophy of balance, coordination, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit to foster growth through exchange; and a cooperation philosophy of openness, connectivity, and win-win outcomes to bridge differences through collaboration. With firm confidence and concerted action, he concluded, a more promising new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind will surely be written.
First Session: “Globalization and Profound Uncertainty: Restoring Confidence and Rebuilding Trust”
Following the opening ceremony, the sub-forum moved into its first session, chaired by Wang Fan, on the theme “Globalization and Profound Uncertainty: Restoring Confidence and Rebuilding Trust.” Keynote speeches were delivered by Arancha González, Yang Guangbin, Philippe Rheault, Jia Lieying, Gao Zugui, and Pang Xun.
González argued that in the face of severe polarization and fragmentation worldwide, solutions may be sought from four perspectives: rebalancing international institutions, updating universal values, reexamining the roles of international actors, and transforming narratives. The most urgent task, she stressed, is to restore confidence, stabilize the world, and ensure a better future.
Yang Guangbin emphasized that from the perspective of the Chinese concept of tianxia (all-under-heaven), the most significant phenomenon today is not the ebb of globalization but rather the rise of China and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In a world of uncertainty, China’s certainty derives from its own development, through which it changes the world. As the global system moves toward pluralism and polycentrism, he argued, new theoretical frameworks beyond those of the West are needed to interpret international relations.
Philippe Rheault stressed that addressing international uncertainty requires tackling domestic economic inequality, as inequality drives international instability. In the United States, for instance, unequal wealth distribution has fueled political polarization, while the success of international cooperation often depends on domestic political ecology. He expressed hope that nations might work together to build more just and equitable societies.
Jia Lieying noted that while the League of Nations left a rich legacy, the failure of great power coordination has plunged the United Nations into significant difficulties. He called for reform of the Security Council, closer cooperation among functional international organizations, and greater recognition of the role of NGOs. To enhance the role of international organizations, he proposed three measures: improving institutional flexibility, substantially increasing funding and resources, and strengthening leadership.
Gao Zugui argued that today’s uncertainty, instability, and insecurity stem from three main sources: intensifying competition for technological advantages; a growing emphasis among many countries on pragmatic efforts to strengthen their own governance systems and capacities; and an increasing tendency among states to draw on their own traditions to find governing philosophies suited to national conditions. Hence, it is crucial to balance strengthening cooperation with respecting diversity.
Pang Xun presented the key research projects of Peking University’s Political Analysis of Global Risks Laboratory, organized around concepts, strategies, measurement, and policies. She explored how to build capacities to cope with and adapt to a world of high uncertainty and complex risks. She identified four pillars of capability—robustness, resilience, flexibility, and adaptability—and highlighted the importance of transforming competition and conflict into coordination and cooperation through measurable capabilities, thereby providing effective policy and action guidance.
Second Session: “Decision-Making and Policy for the Global Future: Strengthening the Capacity of International Organizations”
The second session, chaired by Zhang Qingmin, focused on the theme “Decision-Making and Policy for the Global Future: Strengthening the Capacity of International Organizations.” Keynote speeches were delivered by Ren Minghui, Feng Zhongping, Dai Xinyuan, and Liu Lianlian.
Ren Minghui argued that public health is a field fraught with risks and high uncertainty, in which international organizations must play a stronger role. However, the World Health Organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was weak, slow, and fragmented, revealing the obsolescence of the International Health Regulations and the lack of political will among certain states to allow WHO to intervene. He called for new legal instruments, the establishment of more robust health financing platforms, and necessary reforms to the global health governance system to enhance efficiency, better respond to global public health crises, and advance the building of a global community of health for all.
Feng Zhongping emphasized that in the evolving global landscape, both China and Europe are key forces shaping the future. Their respective attitudes and worldviews will be decisive for global development. Analyzing Europe’s situation and current China–Europe relations, he argued that both sides share the conviction that multilateralism is the only viable path for global governance. He stressed the importance of strengthening dialogue and cooperation with Europe despite persistent differences, in order to forge a cooperative global future.
Dai Xinyuan examined fundamental questions about international order: what it is, who challenges it, in what respects it is challenged, and how it might evolve. She argued that while there is no magic formula to strengthen international organizations, pragmatic actions and measures can help improve their effectiveness. In fact, she noted, international cooperation is receiving increasing attention and should remain an area in which confidence for the future is sustained.
Liu Lianlian analyzed the cognitive premises of global governance, the Chinese multilateral approach to addressing governance deficits, the logic and elements of multilateral solutions, and the possible contributions of China’s approach in comparative perspective. She concluded that future cooperation should be guided by the vision of “seeking common ground while preserving differences” to achieve plural coexistence, with a pragmatic gradualism that ensures regional inclusiveness and openness across time and space.
In the interactive Q&A sessions following each panel, participants actively raised questions and speakers responded with enthusiasm, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere of exchange.
Group Photo of Forum Guests
Written by: Gao Jingwen
Photo by: Beijing Forum Secretariat
Edited by: Wang Yumeng