On Oct 15, School of International and Public Affairs of Jilin University and Sungkyun Institute of China Studies of SungkyunKuwan University jointly held the 8th China-ROK Public Diplomacy Studies Forum. Themed “China-ROK Cooperation in the Context of COVID-19”, the forum was held both online and offline, and Ambassador Round Table was included in the Forum for the first time. A number of incumbent and former diplomats, experts, scholars and young teachers and students from China and the ROK discussed the trend of bilateral relations in the post-pandemic era and the future security situation in Northeast Asia, and put forward constructive suggestions of promoting public diplomacy to play a greater role between the two countries. This Forum was hosted by School of International and Public Affairs of Jilin University and Sungkyun Institute of China Studies of SungkyunKuwan University, and sponsored by Office of Social Science, School of International and Public Affairs, Institute of International Studies and Institute of National Development and Security Studies of Jilin University.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Xiao Xi, Dean of School of International and Public Affairs and Dean of Institute of National Development and Security Studies of Jilin University. Vice President of Jilin University Prof. Cai Lidong and Ambassador for Public Diplomacy of ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chang Jae-bok were presented at the Forum and made the opening speeches. Among the participants were the Lü Dayu, President of Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries of Jilin Province, Yao Yuchun, Director of Office of Social Science of Jilin University, and Zhang Guangcui, Director of Office of Global Engagement of Jilin University.
Prof. Cai Lidong praised the forum which was held as scheduled despite the pandemic, recalled the fruitful achievements of the past seven Forums which have shown the ideal and value of public diplomacy scholars and practitioners. He pointed out that, to China, ROK, even the whole world, 2020 was a fluctuating, eventful and special year. He hoped this Forum could build a new platform for “public diplomacy during the pandemic”, which enabled more valuable ideas and thoughts to engage with the new areas and subjects of public diplomacy studies.
Ambassador Chang Jae-bok pointed out that, under the context of COVID-19 pandemic, in order to promote the friendly cooperation between China and ROK, it was of great significance to discuss the role of public diplomacy. He described the China-ROK relations in the past six months as “a friend in need is a friend indeed”, the pandemic was a crisis but also an opportunity to rebuild trust and friendship between China and ROK, there were countless touching moments of China and ROK hand-in-hand in fighting against the pandemic. Ambassador Chang Jae-bok confirmed the important role of the Forum in the ongoing process of China-ROK friendly and cooperative relations, held that the Forum would provide an opportunity for the development of post-pandemic public diplomacy between China and ROK, ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs would support the expansion and development of China-ROK public diplomacy platform as always.
After the opening ceremony came the Ambassador Round Table Talk, which was held jointly by Prof. Liu Debin the founding Dean of School of International and Public Affairs, Director of Institute of International Studies and Prof. Lee Hee-ok, Director of SungKyun Institute of China Studies. Prof. Liu Debin said that ambassadors were not only the practitioners, but also the accomplished theorists in diplomacy, he believed this Forum would kindle the new ideas to promote the expansion of the public diplomacy between two countries. Prof. Lee Hee-ok reviewed the China-ROK cooperation and the achievements of last seven Forums, he believed the discussion between ambassadors could shed new light on how to develop the public diplomacy between two countries.
Former Vice Minister of International Department of Central Committee of CPC Prof. Yu Hongjun said that the theme of this Forum highly matched the new changes of nowadays world and the new trend of international relations, and was also in line with the need of bilateral relations and academic exchanges. From the perspective of “changes unseen in a century”, Prof. Yu Hongjun shared an insight of the relations of China-US, China-ROK, China-ROR-Japan, and “10+3”, and predicted the future trend of the international situation. In order to handle the long-term problems of the development of bilateral relations, he put forward five principle proposals: enhancing the high-level dialogues and restoring bilateral political trust; handling the relation with the U.S. properly, concerning the new trend and the core interests of both sides thoroughly, and avoiding the reoccurrence of SAAD issue, and being responsible for the peace and stability of Northeast Asia and Asian-Pacific region; increasing the substantive cooperation in trade and technology, especially in e-commerce, integrated circuit, artificial intelligence and bioscience, etc.; enriching people-to-people exchange and cultural cooperation, especially increasing the dialogue between media and think tanks, enhancing the people’s awareness of the community with a shared future in both sides, avoiding being misled by external misinformation and disinformation; upholding the position of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and working for lasting peace for the region.
Lee Sihyeong, Former ROK Ambassador to OECD expressed warm congratulations to the successful holding of the Forum. He pointed out that the expansion and deepening of the changes of our time were accelerated by the pandemic, at the same time, the complex competition between China and U.S. had deepened. Due to the special domestic political environment, there are different opinions in ROK concerning whether to develop the relations with China and the U.S. simultaneously or to take side. ROK government cherishes and attaches great importance to China-ROK relations, but the domestic and international public opinion should also be taken into account. He hoped both sides strengthen the channels of public diplomacy exchanges, and promote China and ROK to meet each other halfway.
Ning Fukui, Former Chinese Ambassador to ROK, Former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vice Representative of Korean Peninsula Issues said that in the context of increasingly complex challenges of COVID 19, the Forum was very pragmatic and was held just in time. He also pointed out the fact that although China and ROK had established diplomatic ties for just 28 years, the China-ROK relations had been developing in a fast speed, China and ROK had become the partners to coordinate and cooperate in many fields. High degree of alignment of the interests of both sides is the fundamental force pushing China-ROK relations forward, always seeking, expanding and insisting shared interests was the secret ingredient of the success of China-ROK relations. Ambassador Ning Fukui put forward five suggestions concerning deepening the friendly cooperation in the post-pandemic era: deepening the mutual trust between China and ROK; handling the U.S. factor properly; solving the competition issues in the economic and trade cooperation; strengthening people-to-people exchanges; properly handling the conflicts of interests and sensitive issues; enhancing the communication and coordination in the regional political and security affairs.
Former ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador for Northeast Asia Cooperation Jeong Sang-gi pointed out that in this special time, it was of great significance for School of International and Public Affairs and Sungkyun Institute of China Studies to attach great importance to China-ROK relations and hold this Forum. In his speech, he stressed that in the context of the pandemic, trust and cooperation among countries, as well as international ties and multilateral diplomacy, were particularly important. In addition, he attached great importance to the public diplomacy aiming at public opinion, and noted that the goal of public diplomacy was to guide people’s mind, which should open in communication and inclusive.
Former Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Senior Researcher of National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China Yue Xiaoyong appreciated the theme of this Forum, and said it was high time to hold this Forum. He acknowledged the role of public diplomacy in China’s foreign affairs and China-ROK relations, emphasized the role and practice of public diplomacy in handling the negative international public opinions, and illustrated the origin, evolution of China public diplomacy and the opportunities and challenges faced by China-ROK public diplomacy.
In panel discussion themed “China and ROK’s experience in the fight against COVID19 and the cooperation in the northeast Asia”, the scholars presented Wang Sheng, Yang Gap-yong, Sun Xingjie, Sin Jong-Ho, and the commentators Guo Rui and Lee Mun-Gi had heated and in-depth exchanges. They summarized the experience of China and ROK in controlling the pandemic and discussed the experience and trend of northeast Asia regional cooperation from the aspects of “U.S. factor” and “DPRK factor” in China-ROK relations, social governance, strategic conservatism and non-traditional security cooperation. In the panel discussion themed “the new changes of China and ROK diplomacy in the context of COVID19”, the presentations made by Xiao Xi, Jang Yeong Hui, Yan Zhen and Chen Chen, and the comments from Ham Myungsik and Paik Wooyeal discussed the situation and changes of current China-ROK relations, and put forward suggestions to the development of China-ROK relations and public diplomacy in the post-pandemic era.
As the Forum approached to the end, Prof. Lee Hee-ok and Ambassador Ning Fukui summarized this year’s Forum. Prof. Lee Hee-ok pointed out that public diplomacy should make true effects, only by facing the conflicts bravely and controlling the crisis effectively can China-ROK relations develop in a dynamic way, the aim of this forum was to support governments’ practice of public diplomacy, we need to attract more participants to it, and seek the solution to the realistic issues with a vison facing the future.
The first China-ROK Public Diplomacy Studies Forum was held in 2014. With School of International and Public Affairs and Sungkyun Institute for China Studies’ alternate host, China-ROK Public Diplomacy Studies Forum has been held successfully for 8 times. Trust and friendship between Jilin University and Sungkyunkwan University were greatly enhanced through the close cooperation and exchange of both sides, and China-ROK Public Diplomacy Studies Forum has become the main channel of academic exchanges in public diplomacy of both sides and an important platform to offer intelligent support to China-ROK relations.
