Experts Demand Strong International, Strategic Studies

Experts Wednesday suggested China's academic community improve international and strategic studies, in order to face up the new international situation.

At the founding ceremony of the Institute of International and Strategic Studies at Peking University, the institute's council member Chen Xiaogong said that China's academic studies in international strategies lagged behind demand for national development.

"China is in dire need of strategic think tanks to deal with perplexing situations in international security and the world economy," said Chen.

Ji Zhiye, president of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said China used to be a mere participant in international affairs, but now it is becoming an innovator.

"The new leadership attaches great importance to development of international and strategic studies, urging think tanks to provide more wisdom," Ji added.

Culture Minister Cai Wu said that China is weak in academic and policy studies of international politics, security and strategy, and suggests learning from history to predict the future.

The institute's predecessor, the "Center for International and Strategic Studies of Peking University" established in 2007, was ranked 63rd in the 2012 list of global think tanks by the University of Pennsylvania.