2015 West Lake Strategic Conversation in Hangzhou
The LSE IDEAS China Foresight Project analyses Chinese strategy and foreign policy from the inside out by understanding the domestic policy making process and engaging with the ongoing debates among Chinese academics and senior policy-makers.
Despite China's growing interaction with the rest of the world, the country's foreign policy continues to be largely dictated by domestic requirements. To understand how China's foreign policy may develop over time, it is essential that the international community appreciates these internal drivers and the strategic thinking of the Chinese leadership. China Foresight takes on this challenge.
China and Brexit Media Appearances
China Foresight's Yu Jie has given insight into the Chinese perspective on the UK EU referendum.
Speaking to US National Public Radio, she said the Chinese leadership "obviously consider the UK as being a gateway to Europe for years and years."
She told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight that in addition to the economic cost, a 'Brexit' would be a political risk to President Xi Jinping. Read more on the BBC News website or in Yu Jie's LSE BrexitVote Blog on why China is an unexpectedly strong supporter of the Remain camp.
Recent China Foresight Events
UK-China: Stocks, Shakespeare, and Satellites
British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward on the 'Golden Era' of UK-China relations, the importance of public diplomacy, and building a strategic partnership. Listen to the Podcast.
Lecture took place March 17 2016
China, Brexit, & the EU: Challenges, Uncertainties, & Opportunities?
This China Foresight-Dahrendorf Forum workshop explored strategic aspects of China-EU relations and how the Brexit debate will impact the newly revived bilateral relationship between Beijing and London.
Workshop took place March 10 2016
China in the Mediterranean Conference
China Foresight's Yu Jie attended the China in the Mediterranean conference in Turin, hosted by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the Torino World Affairs Institute (TWAI). Watch the video (1:55) of her thoughts on investment by Chinese State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in the region.
Reddit 'Ask Us Anything'
The China Foresight team took part in an 'Ask Us Anything' public question and answer session with readers on Reddit's r/geopolitics. Read the discussion here.
The project engages with a range of Chinese foreign policy executives, a selection of which are below. Click on photos to enlarge.
Dr Yu Jie represented China Foresight at 40th Anniversary of China-Europe Relations: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead conference in Rome organised by the IAI think-tank with the support of the Chinese Embassy and Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking on the panel discussion on Towards greater EU-China cooperation in southeast Europe and the Mediterranean?
Professor Erik Berglof and Dr Yu Jie met Professor Yu Yongding, member of Monetary Committee of the People's Bank of China and one of the country's most renowned economists with Dr. Guan Tao who was Director General of State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), and the delegation from China Financial 40 Club (CF40) to discuss China’s economic transformation and the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative.
Dr Yu Jie of IDEAS and Professor Erik Berglof, Director of the IGA, discussed building a innovation economy in China with Ding Xuedong, Chairman of the China International Corporation - China’s sovereign wealth fund.
CIC is a key shareholder in both UK BAA Heathrow Airport and Thames Water. Prior to heading the CIC, Chairman Ding was the Vice Minister of Finance and Deputy Secretary General of the State Council, PRC.
After taking part in the LSE-PKU Summer School in Beijing, IDEAS Director Michael Cox and Dr Yu Jie met the Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond and the UK Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward with Professor Wang Jisi of Peking University.
Built upon our frequent exchanges with Chinese officials, IDEAS was one of only four UK think tanks invited to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on his visit to London.
IDEAS was also the only UK think tank to take part in a direct dialogue with Vice Minister Guo Yezhou of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
We hosted a debate on UK-China relations following the 2015 General Election with the Minister Counsellor from the Chinese embassy in London.
The project also has links with the Chinese policy makers of the future through the CPC Central Party School in Beijing and we have also worked in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Social Science, one of China’s leading foreign policy think tanks.
The China Foresight project jointly hosts the West Lake Strategic Conversations with Zhejiang University in Hangzhou.
Taking place in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the West Lake of Hangzhou, the strategic conversation brings together senior Chinese foreign policy makers and academics for an open dialogue about the country’s diplomatic strategy during Xi Jinping’s presidency.
The first conversation took place in April 2015 with attendees including leading Chinese foreign policy thinkers Jia Qingguo and Zhu Feng. The group discussed the dynamics and challenges of China’s external affairs under President Xi Jinping’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.
The result of the first conversation was a policy paper for the Zhejiang Provincial Government, which will host a G20 summit in September 2016.
Dr Yu Jie (Cherry) is the China Foresight Project Manager. Prior to LSE IDEAS, she worked as a management consultant and China Desk at London Office of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, GmbH.
Read the IDEAS special report on China’s Geoeconomic Strategy.