The Understanding China Conference (UCC) was launched by the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS) and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs among other world-renowned think tanks in 2013, and has been successfully convened for 8 editions and counting in collaboration with the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality (editions 1-3, 2013-2015) and the People’s Government of Guangdong Province (editions 4-8, 2019-2024).

Now a flagship international event of the CIIDS, the UCC invites globally prominent statesmen, strategists, business leaders, academics and media professionals to join their Chinese counterparts for in-depth discussions, and has well established itself over the years as one of the most influential platforms for the world to understand China’s development strategies.

President Xi Jinping has been giving his kind attention to and warm support for the Conference since its inception, having met with the international participants for three times and sent over five congratulatory messages, underscoring his consistent engagement in the Conference. In 2021, the President addressed the opening ceremony of the Conference via video remarks.

In March 2020, the UCC was formally recognized by the Central authorities as a regular event, held after the CPC Central Committee’s plenum or the CPC National Congress. Guided by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UCC is now a salient feature on China’s diplomatic and international communication calendar, with its secretariat housed at CIIDS Office in Beijing to ensure smooth coordination and integration between the Conference and its founding Institute.

From December 2-4, 2024, the UCC was convened to another resounding success in Guangzhou under the theme “Carry the Reform Through to the End——Chinese Modernization and New Opportunities for World Development”. President Xi Jinping sent over his fifth congratulatory message to mark the occasion, while Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang of the State Council held discussions with the international participants in Beijing. The three-day event facilitated in-depth dialogues amongst the participants, who came away with a deeper understanding and recognition of the Chinese Modernization and, by extension, of the modernizing country itself.