A launch ceremony for the Annual Report on Development of the United Kingdom (2020-2021) was held online on Jan 17. 

The Annual Report on Development of the United Kingdom (2020-2021) is released on Jan 17. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn] 

The event was hosted by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), the Social Sciences Academic Press (SSAP), and the Society of British Studies at the Chinese Association for European Studies (CAES) and undertaken by the British Studies Centre and the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at BFSU.

Attendees included experts and scholars in British studies and representatives from media outlets in China.

Experts in the field of British studies deliver keynote speeches at the launch ceremony on Jan 17. [Photo provided to bfsu.edu.cn]

Zhang Jian, dean of the School of English and International Studies at BFSU, said the Annual Report on Development of the United Kingdom (2020-2021) is the eightieth volume of the UK report series. As an inseparable part of BFSU’s blue book series, this report will play an active role in promoting the university’s global strategies, he added. 

Yang Qun, editor-in-chief of the SSAP, expressed gratitude to BFSU and professionals for supporting the book, and hoped that the research group will strengthen theoretical studies in this field and further consolidate think tank construction. 

Luo Lin, Party secretary of the Faculty of Foreign Studies at Beijing Language and Culture University and director of the Secretariat of International and Regional Studies at the Ministry of Education, noted that breakthroughs have been made in national and regional research in the previous year and hopes that the British Studies Centre at BFSU will make greater achievements in talent training, scientific research, advisory services and discipline construction. 

Feng Zhongping, director of the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and president of CAES, shared his opinions on the role the UK has played since World War II from the perspectives of major power relationships, social economy, national security and foreign policies.

Tian Dewen, deputy director and research fellow of the Institute of European Studies of CASS, talked about the changes in Britain’s socioeconomic development strategies under the impact of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic and uncovered the difficulties brought by neoliberalism in the UK.

Wang Zhanpeng, chief editor of the Annual Report on Development of the United Kingdom (2020-2021), explained the major viewpoints put forward in the book, analyzed Britain's transformation in domestic and foreign policies from 2020 to 2021 and summarized new characteristics of Britain's politics, economy and diplomatic relations as well as its social and industrial policies.

Cui Hongjian, director of the Department for European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said that Brexit has brought opportunities and challenges for scholars to conduct British studies, and he looks forward to attending new discussions on related research paradigms and methods with fellow experts.