On the afternoon of September 19, 2018, a high-level delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, led by Chairman Thomas Tugendhat, accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy in China, Christina Scott, visited the Institute For China-US People-to-People Exchange, Peking University (CUPPE), and conducted in-depth exchanges on issues such as Sino-US relations, Sino-British relations, and Chinese roles in international organizations with Chinese professor. This conference is a series of special roundtable activities of the KIM KOO FORUM, which was hosted by CUPPE. Associate Professor Wang Dong, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute, moderated the conference.
The British participants included: MP Thomas Tugendhat (Chairperson), MP Christopher Bryant, MP Michael Gapes, MP Ian Murray, MP Robert Seely, MP Royston Smith; Secretariat staff Hannah Bryce and Matthew Harries; as for British Embassy, there are Deputy Head of Mission Christina Scott, Political Counsellor Giles Montagnon, Senior Bilateral Officer Vikki Darrough, Political and Visits Officer Vivienne Che. And the Chinese participants included: Yang Ruiguang, the Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in UK; Peng Qiao, the Senior Staff of Foreign Affairs Committee of National People’s Congress; Zhang Jian, the Director of Institute of European Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR); Associate Professor Chen Shaofeng, Associate Professor Dong, Assistant Professor Lei Shaohua, Assistant Professor Qi Haotian of School of International Studies, Peking University(SIS, PKU). In addition, more than ten undergraduate and graduate students from SIS, PKU also participated in the dialogue.
At the beginning of the dialogue, Associate Professor Wang Dong first welcomed President Tugenhart and his party, and invited the guests present a brief introduction. In the speech, Chairman Tugenhart expressed his concern about China's position and role in the international system, pointing out that the current international rules are facing serious challenges in all aspects, as well as China and the UK should work together to defend international rules and order, which are important to the common prosperity of the two countries. In response, Associate Professor Wang Dong pointed out that if review the history, opening up brings prosperity is an important experience of China's rise and development. China understands the significance of international rules and will also work to defend the multilateral system. However, the United States is seriously challenging this system, such as the recent Sino-US trade war, although China does not want to fight a big trade war, but in the face of a imposed trade war on China by US, China must resolutely defend its national interests and safeguard the international multilateral free trade system. UK and China should work together to defend the multilateral free trade system based on the World Trade Organization. After that, the two sides conducted frank and in-depth communication on issues such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Investment Bank, the Sino-US trade war, domestic politics, and global governance. At the end of the dialogue, Associate Professor Wang Dong highlighted the achievements of China's 40 years of reform and opening up, then talked about the prospect of China's transition from a regional power to a global leader.
In the Q&A, the students asked questions on the topics of Anglo-American relations and the prospect of Brexit. The British side showed great enthusiasm and interest in the exchanges with students, and replied meticulously to relevant questions. The conference ended in a friendly and warm atmosphere.
Note: The Foreign Affairs Committee is the special committee of the British House of Commons responsible for reviewing the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It consists of 11 members from the ruling and opposition parties. Its terms of reference cover the review of diplomatic and federal issues, such as policy, management and expenditures. The Foreign Affairs Committee plays an important role in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of British foreign policy and has a major impact on the UK's internal affairs and diplomacy. The current Chairman of the Committee, Conservative Party MP Thomas Tugendhat, was elected in July 2017.
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