On December 15-16, 2023, Korea University hosted the 15th Five-University Conference at its main campus and the Choi Jonghyun Academy. Peking University’s School of International Studies (SIS) was represented by Professors Jia Qingguo and Zhang Qingmin, Associate Professors Gui Yongtao and Dong Zhaohua, and Assistant Professor Qi Haotian. Doctoral candidates Zhu Lingling and Li Sining participated in the graduate student forum. The conference brought together nearly 30 distinguished IR scholars from Peking University, Princeton University, the University of Tokyo, Korea University, and the National University of Singapore.
Under the theme “Great Transformation and New Principles in International Relations”, participants engaged in candid and in-depth discussions across five thematic panels:
Global Security & International Politics: Eurasia’s strategic significance; challenges and approaches to strategic stability and risk reduction in complex geopolitical-technological landscapes
Reconfiguring East Asian Bilateral Relations: Emerging multilateral frameworks; Cold War mentality’s regional impact; Southeast Asian perspectives on regional order
Reevaluating IR Principles: Global governance challenges; comparative analysis of international political norms; diplomatic pathways for new principles
East Asian Regional Order: Current architectures; prospects for new structures; geopolitical dimensions of global public policy
Toward New Economic Governance: US-China competition’s systemic effects; trajectories for reformed global economic governance; East Asia’s potential new economic pathways
Graduate presenters delivered research briefings on topics including:
US strategic narratives on China
Supply chain resilience and BRI implementation
China’s global initiatives in comparative perspective
Digital public diplomacy innovations
Middle-power hedging strategies
The fourth panel was opened to public participation, attracting robust engagement from diverse attendees.
During the December 16 closing session, institutional representatives unanimously commended the conference’s substantive outcomes and initiated planning for the 16th edition to be hosted by Princeton University in 2024.
Written by: Zhu Lingling
Photo by: Li Sining
Edited by: Zhang Chunping