The Joint Session of the Eurasian Online-Seminar and China Seminar with Yang Jiemian
On Tuesday, 12 May 2020, the International Laboratory on World Order Studies, Department of International Relations and the New Regionalism and the School of Oriental Studies of the National Research University Higher School of Economics held a joint session of Eurasian Online Seminar and China Seminar. Our speaker was a renowned Chinese expert in international affairs Professor Yang Jiemian. The topic of his talk is "Post-Pandemic World Order and Major Power Relations".
Professor Yang is currently a Senior Fellow and Chairman of the Academic Affairs Council at Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) and a Counsellor of Shanghai Municipal People's Government. He received his B.A. from the Shanghai Normal University, M.A. from the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) and another M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and defended his Ph.D. at the Shanghai International Studies University. He later worked as SIIS Vice President and President.
Prof Yang also serves on the boards of the China National Association for International Studies, the Chinese People Institute of Foreign Affairs, the National Association of China-U.S. Friendship, the National Association of American Studies, Shanghai Association of International Relations, Shanghai Institute for International Strategic Studies, Shanghai Association of Taiwan Studies and many other organizations.
Dr. Yang is also a guest professor/fellow at the PLA National Defense University, Shanghai International Studies University and Tongji University. His honors include National Special Awards, Shanghai Outstanding Talent Award and several Shanghai Awards in Social Sciences. He has published numerous articles and books on international relations and American foreign policy. His most recent books include: International Systemin Transition and Multilateral Organization Developments (Beijing: Shishi Publishing House, 2007); Grand System: Toward Multi-Polar & Multi-Actor (Tianjin: Tianjing People's Publishing House, 2008); Global Climate Change Diplomacy and China’s Policy (Beijing: Shishi Publishing House, 2009); Poliferation of International Crisis and Sino-US Joint Response (Beijing: Shishi Publishing House, 2010); China’s Expo Diplomacy: Theory and Practice (Beijing: Shishi Publishing House, 2011).
During his speech, Yang Zemian talked about the specific features of the economic and political development of European and Asian countries from the 1940s to the modern period, noting the important role of the global financial crisis in the development of the community building and the collective growth within the framework of new international formats and organizations, such as BRICS, SCO, G20, etc. Analyzing the prospects for the development of multipolarity in modern international relations, Professor Yang noted that the growth of regional forces, including countries such as Japan, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, etc., contributes to the establishment of multipolarity, limiting the power of one or several powers, as well as more harmonious international development. The professor emphasized that the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will dramatically change the current balance of power in the world and will cause gradual reforms of international organizations to fill the institutional vacuum and more effectively solve major acute international problems.