On March 13, 2026, Mr. Wang Boyong, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of CIIDS, led a delegation to the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) and held talks with Mr. Zou Xiaoli, Vice President of CPIFA. The two sides exchanged views on topics such as high-standard preparation for the 10th Understanding China Conference (UCC) to be held in Guangzhou in late 2026, co-hosting the 3rd China-US-Southeast Asia Trilateral Think Tank Meeting, and further deepening strategic cooperation between the two institutions.

Mr. Wang Boyong elaborated on the overall preparation and implementation plans for the 2026 Understanding China Conference. He noted that as the conference is set to celebrate its 10th edition milestone, efforts should be focused on achieving new heights in the conference's profile, content quality and communication influence while delivering impressive, high-caliber results. He expressed the hope that CPIFA would leverage its unique strengths in international diplomatic resources, guest invitation channels and global communication outreach, and provide strong support for inviting important international dignitaries and enhancing the influence of the Understanding China Conference both at home and abroad.The China-US-Southeast Asia Trilateral Think Tank Meeting is an important Track II dialogue mechanism. CIIDS stands ready to work closely with CPIFA to jointly make the event a resounding success, in service of China’s overall diplomatic agenda.

Mr. Zou Xiaoli spoke highly of the brand value and core role of the Understanding China Conference. He stated that the conference, now a well-established, gilded name forged through years of careful cultivation and steady accumulation, plays an irreplaceable role in building a top-tier platform for dialogues between China and the rest of the world and helping the international community better understand China. The core task of the two Institutions' cooperation this year is to further elevate the conference's standing and help the world gain a better understanding of the Chinese modernization. The agenda design must be closely aligned with China's national development priorities, focus on key global issues, and draw in prominent visionaries from around the world, and make new breakthroughs in developing China's discourse and narrative systems. Furthermore, CPIFA stands ready to deepen all-round strategic cooperation with CIIDS to jointly organize the 10th Understanding China Conference and the 3rd China-US-Southeast Asia Trilateral Think Tank Meeting to high standards.

Mr. Feng Wei, Vice Chairman of CIIDS, Ms. Shen Yinyin, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the Department of International Cooperation of CIIDS, Mr. Zhao Yongguo, Director of the Department for Asian, African and Latin American Affairs of CPIFA, and Ms. Wang Qiong, Director of the Research Department of CPIFA attended the talks.