On August 21, the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) and the World Affairs Press jointly held a launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025), marking the 20th anniversary of the publication series.

The event brought together 18 foreign ambassadors to China, over 60 diplomats and more than 40 Chinese and foreign scholars. The participants are from more than 60 countries.

Speeches were delivered by Chen Bo, president of CIIS; Cui Chun, chairman and general manager of the World Affairs Press; Martin Mpana, Cameroon's ambassador to China and dean of the foreign diplomatic corps; Maja Stefanovic, ambassador of Serbia to China; Wang Fan, president of China Foreign Affairs University; Levente Horváth, director of Eurasia Center at the John von Neumann University; and Wu Zhicheng, director of the Institute of International Strategy at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance).

Chen noted that in the face of an international landscape fraught with changes and turbulence, China has maintained political and social stability while pursuing high-quality economic development. China's diplomacy, said Chen, is committed to promoting world peace and development and upholding international fairness and justice, making the country the world’s most important stabilizing force and the most predictable source of certainty.

She added that in 2025, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and head-of-state diplomacy, China has continued to score new achievements while holding high the banner of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Chen said that the blue book is an annual CIIS publication designed to analyze the international landscape from a Chinese perspective, helping domestic readers better understand the world and enabling the international community to gain a clearer view of China’s foreign policy.

The Chinese edition of the blue book was first published in 2006, followed by the English edition in 2009, and the year 2025 marks the 20th consecutive year of the Chinese version's release, added Chen. She expressed sincere gratitude to all relevant parties for their strong support and affirmed that CIIS would further enhance the quality of the blue book and contribute to deeper mutual understanding between China and the world.

Cui said that over the past two decades, the blue book has been dedicated to accurately interpreting China's diplomatic practice, systematically reviewing its annual diplomatic achievements, and providing scientific analysis of the international situation. It has grown into an authoritative report that reflects China's standpoint, demonstrates academic rigor, and exerts international influence. Playing an important and positive role in effectively communicating China's position and narrative, it has earned high credibility and academic recognition both at home and abroad.

Mpana noted that the blue book has played an active role in effectively telling China's stories and enhancing the understanding of the world, especially Africa, about China. He said that China-Africa relations are currently at their best in history. The 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, he added, has charted the way forward for deepening China-Africa friendship and safeguarding world peace, while the distinctive vision of building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era demonstrates that China and Africa have always been pioneers in forging such a community.

Stefanovic said that over the past 20 years, the blue book has chronicled China's efforts to better understand and improve the world we share, serving as a valuable repository of Chinese wisdom. Amid today’s international landscape, building a community with a shared future for humanity is of greater significance than ever before.

The event, part of the "CIIS Dialogue" series, was chaired by Liu Feitao, vice president of CIIS. Many leading Chinese media outlets attended and covered the event, including Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China Daily and Guangming Daily.

Cui Chun, chairman and general manager of the World Affairs Press, addresses the launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025).

Martin Mpana, Cameroon's ambassador to China and dean of the foreign diplomatic corps, addresses the launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025).

Maja Stefanovic, ambassador of Serbia to China, addresses the launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025).

Wang Fan, president of China Foreign Affairs University, addresses the launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025).

Levente Horváth, director of Eurasia Center at the John von Neumann University, addresses the launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025).

Wu Zhicheng, director of the Institute of International Strategy at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), addresses the launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025).

The event is chaired by Liu Feitao, vice president of CIIS.

Envoys, diplomats and scholars at home and abroad attend the launch event for the CIIS Blue Book on International Situation and China's Foreign Affairs (2024/2025).