We are pleased to announce that the 11th PIIC Beijing Seminar on International Security will be held in Qingdao Shandong Province, China, 26-30 October 2008. Ten previous seminars have been convened successfully every two years since 1988. They were actively attended by natural and social scientists, coming from both China and abroad, with a special focus on relations between science and important issues of international security. Experts from various backgrounds have contributed their wisdom and insights to solutions of some urgent security problems of the globe, to better understanding of differing culture and value on security among people from various parts of the world, to promotion of consciousness of Chinese scholars for direct involvement in analyzing world issues from their own perspective, etc. The reason to continue this forum is strong and straightforward, especially when the world has come to a critical point when such need is emerging as to make collective decisions on what we should do for the next 20 years: more progress on disarmament while enhancing stability or more lasting stagnation and divergences.

The main topics of the seminar include:

1. Nuclear Weapons-Free World, Necessity and Feasibility; How to Make A Trusted and Verifiable Step-by-Step Nuclear Disarmament;

2. The Risks of Nuclear Proliferation and Benefits of Nuclear Power and Technologies for Civilian Purposes, the Way to Keep Balance and to Protect Fissile Material from Misuse;

3. Other Factors of Concern on Nuclear Disarmament: Status of Alert of Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear War Plans and Policies of Use of Nuclear Weapons, Non-Weaponization of Outer Space, Ballistic Missile Defense, Conventional Military Superiority, Regional Instability, etc.;

The seminar also welcome in-depth analysis which could foundamentally change the vision of people on problems of world stability and security viewed from different angles. Are old ideas like nuclear deterrence, nuclear capability hedge strategy, and nuclear preemption strikes etc. still valid and appropriate? What are their reasonable substitutes and what new thinking can reflect the current and future reality? How the build-up of the ballistic missile defense system could influence and tilt the stability to destruction? Isn’t that build-up a kind of arms race no matter unilateral or in allied form? In the past seminars, new ideas were brought about and dynamic interactions among participants from different countries were greatly mobilized which have made the seminar stimulating and challenging.

As all previous sessions, the goal of the 11th seminar is to continue to provide a forum for experts to discuss and exchange their views on these important issues of international security, especially considering the latest development of the security environment. Through this seminar, we hope participants could focus on potential concepts, mechanisms, and methodologies which could promote a win-win strategy and enhance world stability and security for the coming decades.

The seminar will be held in Qingdao Shandong Province, China, from 26 to 30 October 2008. Qingdao is located at the southern tip of the Shandong Peninsula (35°35' ~ 37°09'N, 119°30'~ 121°00'E). A unique blend of sea and mountains and a pleasant climate make Qingdao extraordinary. Qingdao has a total coastline (including its islands) of 870 kilometers, 730 kilometers of which are continental coastline, accounting for one fourth of the total length in Shandong. There are numerous capes and coves along the tortuous coastline.

As the host for the 29th Olympic sailing events, Qingdao has been a very famous city for its Water Sports. The 2008 Olympic sailing events will be held in Fushan Bay near the city’s political, cultural and commercial center. Qingdao has also been renowned for its International Beer Festival. This is a state-level large-scale festival with unique local characteristics since 1991.

Registration to the seminar will be on 26 Oct. 2008 and departure on 30 Oct. 2008. The registration fee per person is, as a rule, 300 Chinese dollar or 60 US dollar. The fee could also be exempted for those who request assistance on it. The organizers will cover the costs of regular lodging and meals for participants during the seminar. Participants will be responsible for travel expenses to and from the seminar in Qingdao and any personal expenses during the seminar.