Co-hosted by Yunnan University, East Asian Institute of National University of Singapore, University of International Relations and Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the 8th Southwest Forum was held from November 2 to 3 in Kunming, Yunnan province. The forum discussed the assessment of China's international security environment and its strategic choices.

Approximately 140 scholars from national and international universities and research institutions attended the opening ceremony, including professor Zhang Yunling from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Guan Mu, former ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Myanmar and Thailand and the principal and vice principal of Yunnan University, Lin Wenxun and Yang Zeyu.

During the opening address, Lin Wenxun said that the Southwest Forum has increasingly become mature. Focusing on satisfying demands and solving problems, the forum has become a base where scholars from different disciplines study and discuss the academic issues of great importance.

During the two-day forum, the participating experts had in-depth discussions on several topics involving international security environment, new geopolitics, theoretical exploration and practical innovation, and regional and international cooperation. The participants made a number of concrete proposals and policy suggestions on the forum. 

Co-founded by the Institute of International Studies, Yunnan University and East Asian Institute of National University of Singapore in 2010, the Southwest Forum is held annually and acts as a bridge connecting the Southwest China and the international academic circles, providing intellectual support to the economic and social development of southwest region, especially Yunnan province.    

As the first comprehensive university founded in China's southwest region, Yunnan University is now in the first group of 'double first-class' universities and has developed to be a key national comprehensive university filled with talents and featuring researches on China's frontier issues, Southeast Asian issues and South Asian issues.