UIBE School of International Relations marks 20th anniversary with global governance forum

The School of International Relations at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday, hosting a major academic seminar to address shifting global power dynamics and the future of political science in China.

The event, titled "Political Development, Major-Country Relations, and Global Governance under Changing World Situations", brought together over 300 attendees, including top university officials, leading scholars from more than 40 institutions, and distinguished alumni.

UIBE President Zhao Zhongxiu opened the ceremony by highlighting the school's rapid ascent over the past two decades. He noted that the school has carved out a "distinctive and steady development path", becoming a vital pillar for the university's overall academic growth.

"The school has achieved significant milestones in academic influence and teaching quality," Zhao said. He urged the faculty to focus on five strategic areas for the future: optimizing discipline layout, cultivating high-level talent, deepening reform in the mode of personnel training, enhancing think-tank service capabilities, and expanding international cooperation networks.

During the event, Dai Changzheng, dean of the School of International Relations, delivered a report on the school's development. He emphasized that the institution has consistently aligned its growth with national strategic needs.

"For 20 years, the School of International Relations has focused on the intersection of disciplines and the construction of an open and inclusive academic culture," Dai said, adding that the school remains committed to "contributing wisdom and strength to China's opening-up and global governance" while maintaining a high standard of high-quality development.

Zhang Shuhua, president of the Chinese Political Science Association, lauded the school's contributions to the decade-long evolution of political science in China. Outlining a roadmap for the future, Zhang proposed a five-point initiative centered on "innovation, systemic strategy, and independent openness". He urged the faculty to maintain its academic momentum as it embarks on what he called a "brilliant new journey" for the next 20 years.

The seminar featured two high-level roundtable forums where experts debated the "accelerated decline" of traditional hegemony and the rise of the Global South. Gao Fei, president of China Foreign Affairs University, remarked that the current global shift provides an unprecedented "stage" for international relations scholars to study the collapsing old rules and China's rising comprehensive strength.

The anniversary also marked several institutional triumphs for the school, including the establishment of doctoral programs in Political Science and National Security and the approval of a specialized Ministry of Education laboratory for Philosophy and Social Sciences.

Huang Baoyin, Party secretary of UIBE, concluded the opening session by praising the school's "landmark achievements". He called on the school to continue its deep research into national security and political science to help build a "world-class university with Chinese characteristics".

The day concluded with alumni forums where graduates from international organizations and government sectors shared insights with current students, bridging the gap between academic theory and professional practice. As it enters its third decade, the School of International Relations aims to use its "Chinese standpoint to dialogue with the world", anchoring its future in both historical awareness and global vision.