Javier Solana (center), former EU high representative for common foreign and security policy, speaks at the World Peace Forum that was held from July 16 to 17 at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

 

At the fifth World Peace Forum (WPF), which was held from July 16 to 17, more than 450 politicians and scholars from around the world gathered at Tsinghua University to address the most pressing threats to global peace and security.

Co-organized by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Global Development Institute at Tsinghua University, the forum adopted the theme “The Order of Common Security: Cooperation, Inclusiveness and Open Access.” Political figures and experts from such countries as the United States, Australia, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Pakistan took part in four plenary and 22 panel sessions on topics ranging from international and regional security cooperation to global counterterrorism.

Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong delivered the keynote speech, and Tang Jiaxuan, former state councilor and chairman of the WPF, hosted the forum. 
 

Liu said that we are in an era that calls for mutually beneficial cooperation, inclusive co-existence, as well as openness and sharing. And the theme of this year’s forum is highly relevant to the reality and needs of today. Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed building a new type of community of international relations featuring mutually beneficial cooperation and developing a community of common destiny for mankind. This is China’s wisdom for coping with complex and grim security threats and building a common security order, she said.
 

At one panel session, participants talked about Obama's China legacy and the future of US-China relations. Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow and director of the Council on Foreign Relations in the US, said Obama’s China legacy can be characterized by three strengths—pivot and rebalance, a track record of cooperation with the Xi government, and bright prospects for new areas of cooperation—and two weaknesses—the lack of bureaucratic coordination and the failure to pragmatically evaluate Chinese proposals. 
 

Scholars also stressed that bilateral relations are no longer based on ideology. Stable and healthy US-China relations serve the interests of both sides. Diplomacy is not about who is tougher, but an art that shows the limits to which both sides can accept and compromise. Therefore, regular face-to-face communication between American and Chinese leaders will play a positive role in promoting mutual understanding.
 

“Currently, the core problem between the US and China is how to strengthen good forces, and weaken bad forces,” said David Lampton, director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
 

He Yafei, former vice minister of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of China’s State Council, agreed that it is necessary for China and the US to build a security framework based on comprehensive discussion. In this process,  China must build trust with the United States and Japan, He said.
 

Finding solutions to the South China Sea issue is one chance to promote trust between countries.

Scholars agreed that arbitration of the South China Sea by an outside party is not a good solution. Dominique de Villepin, former prime minister of France (2005- 2007), stated that it is unilateral arbitration. He said solving the South China Sea issue requires a peaceful solution that is fair to both sides, and dialogue is essential. Former Prime Minister of Japan (2009-2010) Yukio Hatoyama echoed that the South China Sea disputes should be solved through dialogue and cooperation rather than external pressure.

 

Du Mei is a reporter at the Chinese Social Sciences Today.