From May 28 to 30, 2025, Professor Zhao Minghao, Deputy Director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, visited Republic of Korea to attend the 20th Jeju Forum. His participation was at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and the Global Institute for Innovation Studies.

Professor Zhao took part in a sub-forum addressing “Trump 2.0, the DPRK Nuclear Issue, and Peace on the Korean Peninsula.” He engaged in in-depth discussions with experts from Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University, the University of Tokyo, Keio University, the National University of Singapore, the Council on Foreign Relations (U.S.), and other institutions. He also responded to questions from the audience.

The session was chaired by Yoon Young-kwan, former Foreign Minister of Republic and Chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Kim Jin-pyo, former Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Global Institute for Innovation Studies, attended the full session and hosted a dinner in honor of the participating foreign scholars. Professor Zhao was also invited to a welcome banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.

Photo: Professor Zhao Minghao with former National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, former Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan, and other guests.

In his remarks and responses, Professor Zhao emphasized the critical importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, especially in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and sustained tensions in the Middle East. He noted that the situation on the Korean Peninsula has become increasingly complex due to the interplay of major-power rivalry, shifts in the international security landscape, and evolving domestic politics—raising the risk of renewed conflict and instability. Professor Zhao reiterated China’s long-standing commitment to lasting peace and stability on the Peninsula. He called on all parties to seek ways to resume dialogue, manage crises, and break the cycle of confrontation in pursuit of a political resolution to the Peninsula issue.

Launched in 2001, the Jeju Forum is a global dialogue platform jointly hosted by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the International Peace Foundation, and the East Asia Foundation. With a core focus on peace and prosperity, the Forum addresses a broad range of topics including traditional geopolitics, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and green finance. It is widely regarded as the “Davos of Republic of Korea.”