The inaugural edition of the China-US-Europe 30 Forum convened in Singapore, uniting a distinguished group of approximately thirty senior scholars, strategic thinkers, and policy experts from China, the United States, and Europe to explore the most consequential geopolitical shifts shaping the international order. The Forum was jointly co-organized by AADE, bringing together leading intellectual voices for structured and candid dialogue on great-power dynamics, technological competition, and the future of global governance. Framed around the overarching theme of geopolitical transformation over the coming decades, the inaugural session established the Forum as a high-value platform for sustained trilateral intellectual exchange at the intersection of diplomacy, strategy, and technology. Its unique format — modeled after established small-group dialogue traditions — enabled deep, substantive engagement across institutional and national boundaries.
A Remarkable Roster of Speakers
The Forum convened a remarkable roster of speakers, including Wang Fan, then President of China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), who offered perspectives on the structural evolution of the international order and China’s foreign policy posture in an era of strategic competition; Duan Peng, Vice President of Communication University of China (CUC), who addressed the role of media, public discourse, and information ecosystems in shaping geopolitical narratives; Yang Dan, then President of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), who contributed insights on multilingualism, cross-cultural engagement, and the human dimensions of diplomatic exchange; and Zhu Xufeng, Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University, who spoke on governance, public administration, and policy innovation in a rapidly changing strategic environment.
Thematic Pillars of Discussion
Discussions at the Forum ranged across three interconnected thematic pillars: the dynamics of great-power competition and the structural evolution of the international order toward 2035; the implications of the Ukraine crisis and the deepening of geopolitical fault lines across the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions; and the role of science and technology competition — including artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure — in reshaping the strategic landscape and the rules of international engagement. Participants engaged in frank, off-the-record exchanges designed to surface areas of potential convergence and to explore pathways toward more stable and constructive great-power relations.
AADE’s Strategic Contribution and Multilateral Engagement
AADE’s co-organization of the inaugural China-US-Europe 30 Forum reflects its ambition to contribute to the highest levels of strategic thinking and multilateral dialogue on global governance. By convening senior experts from three of the world’s most consequential geopolitical actors in a neutral venue, the Forum created a rare space for candid, trust-building intellectual exchange that transcends the constraints of official diplomatic channels.
The China-US-Europe 30 Forum represents a meaningful addition to the landscape of Track II and multi-stakeholder dialogue. AADE’s founding role in this initiative underscores its commitment to fostering responsible AI governance, inclusive digital development, and the kind of sustained multilateral engagement that is indispensable to building a more stable, prosperous, and equitable global order.