The Tongji Forum on “The Evolution of International Environment and the Trend of National Strategy”, a part of “COVID-19 and International Relations” seminar series, was successfully held online on May 30, 2020. The forum was co-hosted by the School of International Relations at University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University (CCNU), the School of International Relations at Jinan University (JNU), the School of Politics and International Relations at Lanzhou University (LZU), and the School of Political Science & International Relations (SPSIR) at Tongji University, organized by SPSIR and the Institute for China & World Studies at Tongji University, and co-organized by the School of Politics and International Relations at CCNU. A total of 178 teachers and students attended this virtual meeting.

      The opening ceremony was moderated by Professor Zheng Chunrong, Associate Dean of SPSIR. Professor Men Honghua, Dean of SPSIR and President of the Institute for China & World Studies, introduced the background and vision of this meeting, and delivered an opening speech entitled “Focusing on Major Issues, Promoting Cooperation Seminars”.

      Prof. Men said that since the end of the Cold War, global transformation and China’s rise have influenced each other. The world is undergoing the greatest changes in a century when development, reform and adjustment have become the main theme of the times. This has not only caused a profound impact on China, but also brought China with opportunities and challenges. In particular, the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 has profoundly changed China’s external environment, and its national strategy is facing a critical choice. The top priorities of China’s national strategy include upholding bottom-line thinking, focusing on top-level design, maintaining strategic focus and patience, and strengthening strategic cooperation. At this critical moment, the five universities jointly initiated a series of online academic seminars themed “COVID-19 and International Relations” for in-depth exchanges and debates to promote multi-level dialogue between policymakers and academic researchers, and enhance communication and cooperation among the major schools of international relations in China, with a view to deepening cooperation, building consensus, and promoting common progress. Also, this forum was held to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Institute for China & World Studies, Tongji University. Faced with the once-in-a-century changes and the radical changes that COVID-19 has brought to international relations, the Institute for China & World Studies will continue its focus on China-world interaction, and work with all the experts to contribute to China’s development and the discipline construction of international relations.

      Facing the unprecedented new situation and challenges brought about by COVID-19, the participants wanted to hold this seminar to forecast and prepare for the possible changes of the international environment and further develop the discipline of international relations by focusing on the major issue of “The Evolution of International Environment and the Trend of National Strategy”. The meeting was divided into the following five sessions: (1) speeches by specially invited state officials; (2) COVID-19 and the evolution of international environment; (3) COVID-19 and the evolution of China’s external environment; (4) COVID-19 and China’s strategic response; and (5) COVID-19 and the development of the discipline of international relations. Prof. Jin Xin, Director General of China Center for Contemporary World Studies (CCCWS), the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary General of the Silk Road Think Tank Association, and Counselor Zhang Haitao from the Policy Planning Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting and gave advice. Experts and scholars from five host universities attended and spoke at the meeting.

      The closing ceremony was moderated by Prof. Men Honghua and addressed by Prof. Hu Zongshan. Prof. Hu thanked the experts and scholars for their attendance and support and the teachers and students from the five universities for their enthusiastic participation. He appreciated the insightful speeches which benefited the audience a lot, and looked forward to more discussions and brainstorming in the future. As the host of the next forum, He will meet everyone at the School of Politics and International Relations, CCNU.