Shanghai American Forum is a series of conferences newly launched by the SIAS to better facilitate our academic research, in addition to our publication Shanghai Review of American Studies. The forum invites incumbent and former diplomats and officials, as well as eminent scholars on International Relations, to give keynote speeches, share their expertise and comment on the latest trends in international affairs. Our audience includes party leaders, government officials, and academics in Shanghai. The forum also serves to help young and mid-career scholars to improve their understanding of current affairs and policymaking. 

On September 26, 2016, the first lecture of the series was held at the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations (SSSA). Yu Hongjun, former Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made a keynote speech. Yu once served as Chinese ambassador to Uzbekistan, and is now a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament. 

With the US presidential election reaching its climax, the question rises how the new administration will complicate the future of Sino-US relations. In this context, Yu Hongjun gave a lecture entitled “Toward a New Model of Major-Country Relations Between China and the US, Enhancing Interactions Between China and the World”. In his speech, Yu shared his interpretations of a new model of relations between China and the US. He also gave insights from the perspective of relations between China and other countries.