2025.06.23
From 5 to 8 June 2025, Grandview Institution and the CMI-Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation of Finland jointly organised the ‘International Experience and emerging role of China – The First International Peace Mediation Forum and International Mediation Training Conference.’ The forum aimed to introduce China's role and influence in international peace mediation to the world, and also introduce the working methods and experience of traditional European international peace mediation organizations represented by CMI to China.
The forum is divided into three parts: the main forum, sub-forums, and training, which lasts for 4 days. Over 120 participants, including former government officials, diplomats stationed in China, representatives from major European crisis mediation organisations, experts from think tanks and universities, as well as students and members of the public from over 30 countries, attended the event. Additionally, nearly 40 individuals from various sectors registered to participate in the International Peace Mediation Specialised Training from 6 to 8 June.
Forum Chief Planner: Mao Jing, Director of the European Centre at Grandview Institution.
Committee Members: Zong Yuexin, Director of Administration at Grandview Institution;
Zhang Tingyu, International Cooperation Department at Grandview Institution;
Cong Lin, International Cooperation Department at Grandview Institution;
Xie Tingting, intern at Grandview Institution;
Zhou Ruoyu, intern at Grandview Institution.
Ren Libo, President of Grandview Institution, said in his speech that during the preparation for this forum, under the inspiration of relevant Chinese decision-making departments, Grandview Institution decided to change the internationally widely used term ‘international crisis mediation’ to ‘international peace mediation.’ The difference in terminology reflects China's insistence on an independent and peaceful foreign policy, and its basic approach to international crisis and conflict mediation, which is based on the concept of peace, the use of peaceful means, and the realisation of a peaceful vision. This is China's narrative.
Ren Libo, President of Grandview Institution
Oskari Eronen, Chief Programme Officer at CMI, elaborated on CMI's systematic work and achievements in international peace mediation over the years. He introduced CMI's comprehensive work in promoting dialogue among all parties, designing peace plans, and participating in peace processes in regional crises such as the Korean Peninsula, Myanmar, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. He guided the audience in considering how the Finnish government can expand its global influence by funding peace mediation organisations. This is the European approach.
Oskari Eronen, Chief Project Officer of CMI
During the morning session of the main forum on the first day, Yue Xiaoyong, China's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yang Xiyu, former Director of the Office for Korean Peninsula Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, respectively introduced in their keynote speeches China's stance, principles, and outcomes in participating in Afghanistan-related affairs and hosting the Six-Party Talks. Mikko Kinunnen, Finnish Ambassador to China then outlined how the Finnish government collaborates with NGOs like CMI to jointly intervene in the ideas and methods of peace mediation.
Yue Xiaoyong, Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Yang Xiyu, Former Director of the Office for Korean Peninsula Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mikko Kinunnen，Finnish Ambassador to China
Vebjørn Dysvik, Royal Norwegian Ambassador to China, Zhai Dongsheng, Director of the School of Global and Area Studies at Renmin University of China, Lv Jinghua, Senior Advisor at The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), Zhang Yun, Professor at the School of International Relations at Nanjing University, and Janel Galvanek, Director of the Regional Support Department at the Berghof Foundation, among others, presented their differing perspectives on the concepts, cases, and methods of international peace mediation during the specialised discussion. They also analysed the potential areas for cooperation between China and Europe in this field.
On the afternoon of the 5th, roundtable forums on the Russia-Ukraine issue, the Korean Peninsula, and the Israel-Palestine conflict were held consecutively, followed by a dinner discussion on the Myanmar issue. Participants included Moon Chung-in, Special Security Advisor to the former President of South Korea; Kent Härstedt, former Swedish Special Envoy to Korean Peninsula; Leif-Eric Easley, Professor of International Studies at Ewha Womans University; Salah Shehab, Second Secretary at the Embassy of the state of Palestine in China; Gedaliah Afterman, head of Asia Policy Program from the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy and Foreign Relations at Reichman University; Joao Gomes Porto, Advisor on Sub-Saharan African Affairs at the Finnish CMI; Sergio Grassi, Representative of the Albert Foundation's Beijing Office; Arianna Gazzé, Director of the East Asia Department at the British Inter Mediate; Vlad Corbu, Deputy Director of the Dialogue Advisory Group; Ou Yangwei, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee at the Grandview Institution; Wu Hao, Senior Researcher at the Grandview Institution; Li Nan, Deputy Director of the Northeast Asia Research Centre at the Grandview Institution; Xie Tao, Dean of the School of International Relations at Beijing Foreign Studies University; Chen Qi, Director of the China-US Relations Research Centre at Tsinghua University; Ren Xiao, Professor at the Institute of Regional and Global Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University; Bao Zhipeng, Researcher at the China Institute of International Studies; and Guo Weihua, Researcher at the National Defence University, among others, participated in the discussion.
Russia-Ukraine Issue Sub-forum
Peninsula Issue Sub-forum
Palestine-Israel Issue Sub-forum
From 6 to 8 June, CMI and Grandview Institution jointly organised an international peace mediation training programme. Five experts from CMI and experts from Grandview Institution worked together to teach participants about conflict resolution methods and experiences, Chinese peace mediation culture and norms, mediation process design, and the mediation roles of international and regional organisations. More than 30 participants from think tanks, the business sector, NGOs, and some Chinese universities attended the three-day training programme.
International Peace Mediation Training
Since 2020, Grandview Institution has been collaborating with CMI to organise online dialogues on the Peninsula issue, the Russia-Ukraine issue, and the Myanmar issue. Over time, we have gained a deeper understanding of international peace mediation organisations represented by CMI, as well as the unique role and significance of international peace mediation in the operation of international relations and global governance practices. However, what has prompted Grandview Institution to reflect more deeply is how China should articulate and plan its role, status, function, and influence in international peace mediation as its global influence continues to grow. With this question in mind, Grandview Institution has undertaken three initiatives over the past few years.
First, organised a research team to conduct a systematic study of the background, cases, methods, and outcomes of major international peace mediation organisations in Europe, and explored the implications and lessons for China’s related work. (The relevant report will be released shortly.)
Second, using the systematic study of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict as a starting point, on the one hand, we has organised a series of exchanges with multiple renowned European think tanks, embassies of European countries in China, as well as experts and embassies from the United States and Russia, and on the other hand, we organised a research team to conduct a special study on ‘China's Role and Contribution in Facilitating Russia-Ukraine Reconciliation.’ This report was officially released earlier this year, comprehensively and objectively outlining China's stance and its evolution in mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as presenting the efforts and outcomes of China's involvement. The international community has given this report positive evaluations.
Third, we organised the annual ‘International Peace Mediation Forum’ to introduce China's role in international peace mediation to the world and to share international experiences with China. We are honoured to have received CMI's support as a co-host of the first forum. In the future, Grandview Institution hopes that more international peace mediation organisations will join as co-hosts of the forum, continuously introducing international experiences and solutions to China while also showcasing China's role and influence.
As an independent think tank, Grandview Institution will actively participate in the research process of China's narrative, China's path, and China's solutions in the field of international peace mediation. It will also actively introduce international experience into China and integrate it into China, enabling Chinese and Western civilisations to strengthen dialogue, deepen understanding, and promote cooperation in the practice of international peace mediation, and jointly contribute to world peace and development.