The Third High-End UIBE International Political and Economic Forum sponsored by the Institute of International Relations was successfully launched on April 16, 2016. As one of the series of activities designed for the tenth anniversary of the Institute of International Relations, Professor Ren Qiuyuan, the Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, delivered the opening remarks on behalf of extramural guests.

Professor Ren began by congratulating the Institute of International Relations on its tenth anniversary. She observed that China was more confident about leading international cooperation with the upgrading of China's comprehensive national strength. Successful cases vary. For instance, since "One Belt One Road" strategy was commenced, the progress and achievements gained went far beyond people's expectations. In recent years, numerous diplomatic practices have showed that as long as China makes rational use of soft power and full use of the hard power, she will play an increasingly important role in international cooperation.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of International Business and Economics, Professor Lin Guijun's, also delivered a speech. He pointed out that for China to play a leading role in international cooperation, she needs to choose between aggressiveness and conservation, or in other words, making a decision concerning whether to keep a low profile during the whole process. Currently, the integration progress of trade and investment, finance and infrastructure interconnection in Asia has provided China with ample room to lead international cooperation.

The theme of this forum was "How China lead international cooperation", on which, many experts as well as scholars from China' s prestigious universities and scientific research institutions including Peking University, the National Defense University, the University of International Relations, Jilin University, Nankai University, Tsinghua University, China Foreign Affairs University, Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, Renmin University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China University of Political Science, and the University of International Business and Economics, conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges.

The first half of the forum focused on "How China lead international cooperation: theory construction". The Director of the Institute of Globalization and Global Issues from the China University of Political Science suggested that we can break the awareness restrictions on international cooperation by abiding by the following three rules: first, to fully understand that international interdependence is the basic mode of existence for modern human beings; second, to profoundly reflect on maximizing of national interest while promote effective and rational concept of national interest; third, to shatter the shackles of nationalism and the awareness of black or white, and instead, examine the progress of human civilization from the prospect of globalization and cosmopolitanism.

"Changjiang River" special-term Professor Jin Canrong, also the Vice-President of the Institute of International Relations at Renmin University made a comparison between China's and the United States' global governance concept: first, China focused on the United Nations while the United States focused on united alliances; second, when it came to the subject under discussion, China attached greater importance on development while the United States attached greater importance on security. Third, China advocated a global network of partners while the United States cherished hierarchy; fourth, China never interfered in other countries' affairs while the United States tried to shape other countries' affairs, and is committed to achieving global democratization.

The executive editor of Foreign Affair Review and a Professor at China Foreign Affairs University believed that there were the concepts of nation and society concerning politics, and in most cases, society was always marginalized. To avoid nationalism in international cooperation, the relations between nation and society as well as people shall be sorted through while improving cultural diplomacy and public diplomacy. Additionally, encourage small and medium enterprises and ordinary people to participate in big projects.

The Vice-President of the School of Administration at Jilin University borrowed the concept of "coupling" from computer language to combine the constitutive relations between nations and international order. She argued that the constitutive relations were not in the form of direct coupling, controlled coupling, modified coupling, public coupling etc, and we can use three basic variables –– power base, system support and value maintenance –– to investigate the degree of coupling between nation and international order. Public coupling shall be where China heads for when leading international order in the future.

Shi Yinhong, the State Department counselor and Professor of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University divided the international order into international order of institutions and international order of power politics. In international order of institutions, China served as a partner in major multilateral system to varying degrees while playing an increasingly important role in it. As in international order of power politics, China was comparatively radical when it came to the United States' military and strategic superiority in the West Pacific.

The deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies at National Defense University, Professor Tang Yongshen analyzed the concept of structural impact, and he pointed out that China needs to occupy the high spot of regional and safe economic cooperation. In others words, China shall combine her self-interests and common needs of the region while enhancing structural impact on the basis of the improvement of conceptual impact, whose focus was about presenting public products in key areas.

Professor Wang Fan, the Vice-Chancellor of China Foreign Affairs University, pointed out that China's rise shall be cooperative rise supported by new concepts or theories of cooperation, competition, development, security, and culture.

Professor Fang Changping, the Vice-President of the Institute of International Relations at Renmin University, focused on relations between economy and security, bilateral relations and multilateral relations, internal affairs and foreign affairs as well as theory and practices, contemplated on China's participation in cooperation with neighboring countries.

The President of the Institute of Foreign Affairs at University of International Business and Economics, Professor Dai Changzheng gave a comprehensive explanation concerning the opportunities, challenges facing China's participation in international cooperation and the corresponding countermeasures.

The second half of the forum is "China's role in international cooperation: leader or participator?" Professor Gao Zugui, the Vice-President of the Institute of International Strategic Studies at Central Party of the CPC of the Communist Party of China pointed out that global governance concerning economy, internet, nuclear security and climate change had received the attention of China's top leadership.

Zhou Qi, Executive President of the Institute of National Strategic Studies at Tsinghua University, researcher of the Institute of U.S. Studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences believed that China's leading role in international cooperation rested on economy. "One Belt One Road" Strategy and AIIB had won the hearts of Asian countries, and thereafter, cooperation was enhanced. However, there was a lack of cooperation among major powers.

Professor Niu Jun of the Institute of International Affair at Peking University pointed out that for China to lead international cooperation, she needs to establish a common discourse system, especially in terms of values. And China's own direction of development was of paramount importance for her to be a leader in cooperation.

Yuan Zhengqing, the deputy director of World Economics and Politics and researcher of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences explained the changing role of China in international cooperation based on three key words –– participation, reformation and creation.

The President of Zhou Enlai School of Government at Nankai University, Professor Wu Zhicheng pointed out that China was currently at the primary stage of participation in global governance, yet lacks the soft power, charisma and influence matched for a country with the world's second-largest economy. On the one hand, China's awareness to participate in global governance was strengthening; on the other hand, China shall recognize her abilities as well as weaknesses.

Professor Chu Shuling, the director of the Institute of International Strategy and Development at Tsinghua University believed that China was not only a participator, but also a leader in international cooperation. But so far, in most cases, China was leading international cooperation together with other countries. She rarely led international cooperation independently. China was far from becoming an actual leader in international cooperation for her lack of corresponding abilities. And for now, China was a participator in and protector of international system.

Professor Tao Jian, Chancellor of University of International Relations emphasized that successful economic transformation was vital for China's ability to lead international cooperation.

Professor Chen Yue, President of the National Institute of International Political Studies, president of the Institute of International Relations at Renmin University explained the differences and connections between participators and leaders in international cooperation, and posted question that whether China should transform from a participator to a leader and how to achieve the transformation.

"Changjiang River" special-term Professor Wang Yi of the Institute of International Relations at Peking University held the opinion that China has benefitted from the existing international system over the last three decades, and now, she needed to put forth efforts to resolve the predicaments concerning mutual benefit and strength in international cooperation.

Xue Li, researcher and director of the Office of International Strategy of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at Chinese Academy of Social Science pointed out that China relied to much on economical influence and government-level diplomacy in international cooperation.

Professor Xiong Lili of the Institute of International Affairs at University of International Business and Economics believed that for China to lead international cooperation, she needed to resolve conflicts concerning rules in international cooperation. These conflicts were always reflected on micro operational level, and conflicts on macro level of values should not be exaggerated.

Associate Professor Dong Qingling of the Institute of International Affairs at University of International Business and Economics combined characteristics featured the era of big data and explained the application of data analysis in international cooperation studies.

When summarizing the forum, Dai Changzheng said that the Institute of International Relations of University of International Business and Economics had been playing an increasingly important social role with its increasingly close relations with government departments and academic peers since its establishment a decade ago. The High-End UIBE International Political and Economic Forum gathers a group of top-level research scholars who have been tracking the latest and cutting-edge issues for international relations studies. By engaging in in-depth discussions and exchanges, they promote the research of related fields, providing intellectual support for China's diplomatic decision-making and strategy formation.