Beijing, May 30, 2024 — Earlier this month, the Stanford Center at Peking University (SCPKU) hosted former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and his former Chief of Staff who delivered his remarks on "The Role of European Variables in U.S.-China-Europe Relations," and engaged in a roundtable discussion with faculty and students from Stanford and Peking University. The event underscored SCPKU's capacity as a catalyst for cross-cultural collaboration and intellectual exchange in advancing global dialogue, bringing together global thought leaders, policymakers, and academic luminaries.

A Confluence of Expertise and Vision

The roundtable centered on ​Romano Prodi, who served as a distinguished professor both before and after his time as Prime Minister, and who to this day prefers the title “professor.”  Prof. Prodi has been hailed as an architect of EU integration and a global advocate for multilateralism. Joining him were ​Dr. Daniele De Giovanni, the Italian Chief of Staff during Prodi's term, and ​Dr. Qinghong Wang, Executive Director of Peking University’s China-Europe Philanthropy Innovation Research Center (CEPIRC). The discussion included contributions from Stanford scholars Professors Andrew Walder, Matthew Kohrman, Xueguang Zhou, and Jean Oi. Professor Oi chaired the session.

SCPKU as a Platform for Global Discourse

18 Stanford undergraduates from the Bing Overseas Study Program China Studies in Beijing program and 20 Peking University students joined the roundtable dialogue, which explored Europe’s strategic influence in bridging transatlantic frameworks. Topics spanned economic interdependence, climate collaboration, and the EU’s evolving role in mitigating great-power competition.

In his opening remarks, ​Prof. Prodi emphasized the urgency of multipolar dialogue. His perspective resonated with SCPKU’s mission to cultivate transnational academic partnerships. The center’s role in hosting such high-level exchanges—spanning academia, governance, and civil society—was lauded as a model for fostering meaningful dialogue in an era of complex geopolitics.

Bridging Scholarship and Policy

The discussion highlighted SCPKU’s commitment to bridging academic scholarship with real-world policy implications. ​Dr. Wang underscored CEPIRC’s work in advancing Sino-European philanthropic innovation, stating, “Our collaboration with Prodi and Stanford underscores the power of interdisciplinary networks to reimagine global solidarity.” Meanwhile, Stanford scholars shared comparative analyses of EU-China-U.S. trade ecosystems and technological interoperability.

About the Stanford Center at Peking University
Located on the Peking University campus in Beijing's vibrant Haidian District, the Stanford Center at Peking University (SCPKU) is a focal point for building academic and educational networks throughout East Asia. The tri-level center offers collaborative spaces, offices, event support services, and funding for innovative research and education. SCPKU brings together established researchers and a new generation of young scholars to create a dynamic hub of intellectual exchange and collaboration.