On 28-29 October 2017, the Academic Conference “International Relations in Southeast Asia: The Chinese and Japanese Perspectives”, was held in the Research School for Southeast Asian Studies, Xiamen University. The conference was launched by the school of history of Capital Normal University. About 30 scholars from 15 universities and research institutes across the Taiwan Straits and Japan attended the conference.

At the opening ceremony, Dean Li Yiping talked on the current economic and political development in Southeast Asia, and the importance and necessity of the study in Southeast Asia International Relations under the background of “The Belt and Road Initiative”. Professor Yao Baihui hoped that this conference could be forged into an academic forum for young scholars to have a full discussion and offer constructive suggestions for scientific research achievements.

The conference covered the historical changes and current situation of China, Japan and Southeast Asia, regional cooperation in Southeast Asia and the competition among big powers. The presentation topics included: the historical issues of the socialist party network in Southeast Asia in 1950s, the relations between Singapore and China during the Cold War, the cross border cooperation between Chinese Communist Party and Vietnam Communist Party from 1946 to 1949, the ASEAN’s perception on international order, China-ASEAN-US relations and comparison of agricultural aid to Philippines between the three countries of the United States, Japan and China, and the current Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.