December 27 – 28, 2008: The Third Symposium“U.S. Strategic Tendency and Sino-U.S. Relations” of the State Innovative Institute for American Studies took place in CAS. This conference was sponsored by the Center for American Studies and the State Innovative Institute for American Studies, Fudan University.

Over 40 delegates attended the meeting from the following institutes and organization: the Department of Policy Planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Institute of International Studies, Department of Strategy Studies of China National Defense University, Institute of International Strategy Studies of the Party School of the Central Committee of the C.P.C., Center for Peace and Development Studies, Shanghai Institute of International Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai Association of American Studies, Shanghai Development Research Foundation, Center for U.S. Economic Studies, Pudong, School of International Relations of Beijing University, Institute of International and Public Affairs of Tongji University, School of Advanced International and Area Studies of East China Normal University, Shanghai International Studies University, and Fudan University.

The Symposium Opening was chaired by Deputy-Director of the CAS Professor Wu Xinbo, and Director of the CAS Professor Shen Dingli made a welcome speech, introducing the mission and development of the Innovative Institute, and the arrangements of this Symposium, as well as expressed thanks for all the attendees. Next Director Ge of the Department of Social Sciences of Fudan University took the floor, and he pointed out that the CAS should build a brand as an innovative institute. Professor Wu Xinbo also stated in his speech that the CAS hoped to establish academic cooperation with associate organizations.

During the two-day meeting, scholars made intensive discussions about six issues, i.e., American politics and society, financial crisis and American economy, the foreign policy tendency of the new U.S. administration, U.S. strategic tendencies, new patterns of Sino-U.S. relations, and the China-policy of the new U.S. administration as well as the prospects of Sino-U.S. relations.

Before the end of the meeting, former Director of the CAS Professor Ni Shixiong, and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies of Shanghai International Studies University, gave concluding speeches to this symposium. Professor Ni Shixiong reviewed the contents of the two-day discussions, and made an elaborated summary. He thought that this event proceeded with “great speeches, brilliant comments and heated discussions.” Lastly, Professor Shen Dingli thanked all the attendees on behalf of the Center, and the conference came to a successful conclusion.