China has called for greater counterterrorism cooperation in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.  Its companies are investing in numerous “Belt and Road” infrastructure projects that may boost development and stability in fragile states, or conversely, may benefit the corporations without bringing tangible benefits for local populations. The approach by Beijing also can significantly advance or detract from U.S. interests and global peacebuilding norms.

Scholars and policy experts examined China’s role in a range of conflicts, looking at the local and regional implications of actions in Afghanistan and Pakistan and in the countries of the Middle East and Africa. One panel discussed the major strategic challenges to the United States posed by North Korea and Russia, and how China’s role may affect or complicate U.S. policies towards these countries. The panelists also evaluated the policy implications for the Trump administration. Follow the conversation on Twitter with #ChinaGUUSIP. 

Updated Agenda

8:30am-9:00am: Registration and Breakfast

9:00am-9:15am: Welcome

• Ambassador William B. Taylor
  Executive Vice President, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Thomas Banchoff
  Vice President for Global Engagement, Georgetown University

9:15am-10:30am: Panel One - China’s Peacebuilding Role in Afghanistan and Pakistan

This panel will examine Beijing’s growing engagement on both counterinsurgency and counterterrorism issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including China’s active participation in the Quadrilateral Coordination Group that aimed to facilitate peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

• I-wei Jennifer Chang
  Program Specialist, China Program, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator
• Andrew Small
  Senior Transatlantic Fellow, Asia Program, German Marshall Fund of the United States
• Lan Jiang
  Professor and Deputy Director, Center of Pakistan Studies, China West Normal University
• Ahmad Khalid Majidyar
  Fellow and Director, IranObserved Project, Middle East Institute
• Lisa Curtis
  Senior Research Fellow on South Asia, Asian Studies Center, Heritage Foundation

10:30am-10:45am: Break

10:45am-12:00: Panel Two - China’s Approach to Conflict and Terrorism in Africa\

This panel will assess China’s peacebuilding role in ongoing conflicts in Africa, including Nigeria and South Sudan. Panelists will assess China’s economic investments, developmental assistance, and security contributions to the region.

• Ambassador Princeton Lyman
  Senior Advisor for Middle East and Africa, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator
• Yun Sun
  Senior Associate, East Asia Program, Stimson Center
• Joshua Eisenman
  Assistant Professor of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, Senior Fellow for China Studies, American Foreign Policy Council 
• Raymond Gilpin
  Dean, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University

12:00pm-1:00pm: Lunch Keynote Address by Dennis Wilder on “Building U.S.-China Strategic Trust”

Dennis Wilder is former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asian Affairs at the National Security Council under President George W. Bush (2005-2009).  He is a Professor of Practice in the Asian Studies Program and Senior Fellow at the Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues. Professor Wilder has advised various agencies on shaping U.S. policy toward East Asia. 

1:00pm-2:15pm: Panel Three – Chinese Diplomacy in Middle East Conflicts  

This panel will address China’s diplomacy on peace and stability in the Middle East, including its role in the Iranian nuclear issue and the Syrian civil war. 

• Colin Kahl
  Associate Professor, Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University, Moderator
• Carrie Liu Currier
  Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Asian Studies, Texas Christian University 
• Sun Degang
  Professor and Deputy Director, Middle East Studies Institute, Shanghai International Studies University 
• Randa Slim
  Director, Initiative for Track II Dialogues, Middle East Institute 

2:15pm-2:30pm: Break

2:30pm-3:45pm: Panel Four – China and Global Strategic Challenges: North Korea and Russia

This panel will discuss China’s current relationships with North Korea and Russia and potential U.S.-China cooperation to coordinate policies and approaches towards these two countries. 

• Jennifer Staats
  Director, China Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace, Moderator
• Victor Cha
  Senior Advisor and Korea Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies; Director of Asian Studies and D.S. Song Chair, Department of Government and School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• Richard Weitz
  Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Political-Military Studies, Hudson Institute
• Ren Xiao
  Professor, Institute of International Studies, Fudan University 
• Andrew Kuchins
  Senior Fellow, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
• 3:45pm-4:15pm: Concluding Remarks: Policy Recommendations for the U.S. 
• Jennifer Staats
  Director, China Program, U.S. Institute of Peace
• David S. Maxwell
  Associate Director, Center for Security Studies, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University