Professor Zhang Zhenjiang on the International Situation and Chinese Diplomacy Under Great Change

The International School of Huashang College cordially welcomed Professor Zhang Zhenjiang from Jinan University to lecture on the international situation and Chinese diplomacy under great change. Held in the hall of Huashang Conference Center on December 2nd, 2020; it was the 13th lecture of the Cultural Quality Lecture Series. The attendees included Dean Yu Huifen and staff of the International School, students of International School, and faculty and students interested in the topic.

Zhang Zhenjiang, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, served as the Dean of three institutes: the School of International Relations, the Ethnic Chinese and Overseas Chinese Research Institute and the 21st Century Silk Road Research Institute of Jinan University. He also worked as the President and Chief Editor of the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, a member of the Political Science Teaching Steering Committee of Higher Education of Ministry of Education, the Vice President of both the Southeast Asian Studies Association and the Overseas Chinese History Society in China. In addition, he was selected into the New Century Excellent Talents Support Program of the Ministry of Education. The research interests of Professor Zhang are the history and theory of international relations, Asia-Pacific international relations, American diplomacy history, Southeast Asian region cooperation, transnational immigration and international relations, overseas Chinese and China’s internationalization process, ethnic Chinese and overseas Chinese.

Attendees Listening Attentively During the Lecture

Professor Zhang Giving a Speech

This lecture attracted a considerable number of students with all seats occupied, and teachers and students concentrated on it. By using an engaging PPT, Professor Zhang illustrated the impressive topic focusing on hot points. He first analyzed the changes in the international situation triggered and intensified by the pandemic. Then, he pointed out different judgments from the public and the academia on optimists and pessimists produced by the global environment in which China operates. Subsequently, from the perspective of comprehensiveness, dialectic and long-term development, he analyzed China’s unique advantages and opportunities under the unprecedented changes in a century. Finally, he forecast and expected China’s peaceful development.

Discussion and Q&A session

Through interacting with the audience, Professor Zhang fully aroused their enthusiasm and initiative in the topic, and he emphasized the importance of the positive thinking and rational judgement. In the Q&A part, students actively put forward their questions and opinions, and Professor Zhang explained patiently.

Dean Yu Making Concluding Comments

In closing, Dean Yu firstly thanked Professor Zhang Zhenjiang for his wonderful speech, and expressed her admiration for him. Then, she concluded that Prof. Zhang gave an impressive lecture, from which the audience got great knowledge of the unprecedented changes in a century and China’s unique advantages and opportunities under the situation. In addition, she mentioned that the enrollment in this lecture reached up to over 900, but most of them are not allowed to attend because of the limited seating capacity. Finally, Dean Yu showed her gratitude to teachers and students for their participation, supporting and understanding.

The Guest Taking a Photo with Teachers and the Student Host