On December 19, 2022, the 9th China-ROK Strategic and Academic Seminar, themed "China-ROK relations in the new era", was successfully held online. The event was organized by the U.S.-China Policy Institute at Ajou University and supported by the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding at PKU. Dignitaries and leading scholars from China and the ROK attended the seminar, discussing the challenges and opportunities in bilateral relations in the foreseeable future.
Prof.Kim Heung-Kyu (Director of the U.S.-China Policy Institute and Professor in the Department of Political Science at Ajou University) moderated the opening ceremony. H.E. Park Jin (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea) sent congratulatory messages to the seminar. In the remarks H.E. Park Jin emphasized the significance of China and the ROK collaborating to better cope with current global challenges and tough issues." 2022 marks the 30thanniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK; it is important for the two countries to further develop their bilateral relations into a more mature one based on mutual respect," said H.E. Park Jin.
Dr.Chun Jin-Hwan (Deputy Director of Kim Koo Foundation) and Prof.Jia Qingguo (Professor of the School of International Studies at PKU and Director of iGCU) were invited to the seminar and delivered opening remarks, respectively.
Dr. Chun reckoned that the timing of the seminar was suitable considering the ever-changing dynamics in Northeast Asia and the deteriorating security environment. In his remarks, Dr. Chun called on the invited experts to actively contribute to promoting the steady development of China-ROK relations and help maintain security and stability in the region.
Prof. Jia's remarks echoed Dr. Chun's viewpoint, suggesting that the external environment for developing China-ROK relations had undergonetremendous and profound change. Prof. Jia further pointed out that the future of China-ROK relations would largely depend on how the two governments make decisions under external pressure and internal circumstances, and how they interact. Prof. Jia stated that for China, China-ROK relations would be an important avenue to evade the U.S. containment strategy. Meanwhile, whether the ROK can properly handle its relationship with China could be a key step for the ROK to 'win' itself a safe global environment in the following decade.
Session I
“How to Assess the Current International Security”
[Moderated by Prof.Kim Heung-Kyu]
Prof. Kim Heung-Kyu moderated the first session of the seminar, themed “How to Assess the Current International Security”. Prof. Zhu Feng (Executive Dean of the School of International Studies, Nanjing University; iGCU Acad. Comm. Member), Dr.Lee Sang-hyun (Senior Research Fellow at the Sejong Institute), and Prof. Wang Yizhou (Professor of the School of International Studies at PKU;iGCU Acad. Comm. Member) took part in the Section one of the seminar and respectively delivered keynote speeches.Prof. Lee Wang-Hwi (Professor of the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Ajou University).and Prof. Piao Dongxun (Professor and Director of the North-South Korea Research Center at Yanbian University) participated in the discussion session.
Prof. Zhu Feng indicated in his keynote speech that considering the ROK's participation in the U.S.’s China-containment strategy in recent years, it had impeded the economic cooperation between itself and China and adversely affected the future development of China-ROK relations. Prof. Zhu further suggested that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflicts have a negative impact on the global supply chain, triggering turmoil in the financial markets. Thus, the questions of how China and the ROK would collaborate to handle the long-term impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflicts and how the two would deal with their relationships with Russia and the U.S. are yet to be discussed and would remain critical for China-ROK relations.
The speech of Prof. Wang Yizhou (Professor of the School of International Studies at PKU;iGCU Acad. Comm. Member) centered around the dynamics of the current international security situation, providing a detailed analysis of China' s responses. Prof. Wang pointed out that after the 20th National Congress of the CPC, China started to accelerate its process of advocating the building of a new multilateral security mechanism and become more alert to the U.S. intervention in regional affairs.
Session II
“How to Establish a New Maritime Security Mechanism”
[Moderated by Prof.Wang Dong (Professor of the School of International Studies and Executive Director of iGCU)]
Prof. Wang Dong moderated the Session Two of the seminar, themed "How to Establish a New Maritime Security Mechanism”". Prof.Kim Duk-ki (Professor at the Republic of Korea Naval Academy) delivered a keynote speech. Dr. Kim Won-hee (Senior Researcher at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology) and Prof. Qi Haotian (Assistant Professor of the School of International Studies at PKU and Secretary General of iGCU) participated in the discussion session. Participants exchanged viewpoints on China and the ROK's crisis management mechanisms, U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral military cooperation, and the development of Japan-ROK relations.
Session III
“Security Relations between Northeast Asian Countries”
[Moderated by Prof .Jun Bong-Geun (Professor of Korea National Diplomatic Academy)]
Prof. Jun Bong-Geun moderated the third Session of the seminar, themed "Security Relations between Northeast Asian Countries". Dr. Jin Chang-soo (Director and Senior Researcher of the Center for Japan Studies at the Sejong Institute)and Prof.Li Chunfu (Professor of the Northeast Asia Research Center at Henan University of Economics and Law) delivered keynote speeches, respectively. H.E.Baeksoon Lee (former Ambassador of the ROK to Australia) and Dr.Gong Keyu (Deputy Director and Senior Researcher at the Center for Asian-Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies) participated in the discussion session, sharing their thoughts on the regional security dynamics in Northeast Asia.
Session IV
“The Outlook for China-ROK Relations”
[Moderated by Prof. Zhang Jingquan (Associate Dean of the School of Northeast Asia Studies and Vice President of the Institute of International Studies at Shandong University)]
Prof. Zhang Jingquan moderated the Session Four of the seminar, themed "The Outlook for China-ROK Relations". Dr. Hong Hyun-ik (Chancellor of Korea National Diplomatic Academy) and Prof. Zhang Yunling (Chair Professor and Dean of the Institute of International Studies at Shandong University; iGCU Acad. Comm. Member) delivered keynote speeches, respectively. Prof. Park Seung-chan (Professor at Yong-in University) and Prof. Zheng Jiyong (Professor and Director of the Center for Korean Studies at Fudan University) participated in the discussion session. Prof. Zhang Yunling suggested that as 'instability' might become an outstanding characteristic of China-ROK relations, both countries should strengthen crisis management and work together to promote the stable development of their bilateral ties.
In the general discussion session,Prof. KimJin-ho (Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Dankook University) and Dr. Wang Junsheng (Research Fellow of East Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) evaluated the outlook for China-ROK relations, sharing their views over issues like China-ROK people-to-people exchanges, security dynamics in Northeast Asia, and enhancing China-ROK relations.
Closing Ceremony
In the closing ceremony, Prof. Wang Dong and Prof. Kim Heung-Kyu delivered their closing remarks on behalf of the Chinese and Korean experts, expressing their gratitude to all the distinguished participants for attending the seminar. Both professors highlighted the importance of enhancing China-ROK relations in the coming years. Moreover, they presented their commitment to maintaining academic exchanges and dialogues between China and the ROK to facilitate bilateral strategic mutual trust and contribute to peace, prosperity, and stability in Northeast Asia.
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