CSSN-Scholars: Think tanks valuable to diplomacy

Scholars: Think tanks valuable to diplomacy

Author : Source : Guangming Daily 2016-02-19

During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Iran on Jan. 23, the Iran-China Belt and Road Think Tank Dialogue was held, during which the first international think tank cooperation agreement on jointly building the “Belt and Road” through bilateral cooperation of official and academic organizations was signed. Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, published an article in the Guangming Daily advocating a greater role for think tanks in national public diplomacy. First, government support for and trust in think tanks are the most important prerequisites, and the involvement of great figures in official and academic organizations is also necessary, Wang said. Second, building a good relationship with targeted countries and developing working experience there are basic conditions. Third, communication on specific topics and understanding between think tanks from both sides creates long-term momentum.

Editor: Yu Hui