He Talks

Mr. He Yafei has always been a person in the know. As one of the top diplomats with China’s Foreign Ministry during the first decade of the 21th century, Mr. He directed China’s teams in multilateral international negotiations, including the climate change talks, and dealt directly with U.S. State Department at key junctures in bilateral ties. After his retirement from the public service, he became a sought-after public speaker, an academic on globalization and China’s diplomacy, and a strong advocate for a robust China-US relationship. With “He Talks”, we are tapping into this veteran Chinese diplomat-turned academic for his take on issues pertinent to China-US relations.

He Yafei: Was Trump Played by China?
The "special arrangements" such as Peking opera and dinning at the Forbidden City aimed to make Trump feel at home and expose him to more aspects of Chinese life so serious matters can be discussed in a relaxed setting.
He Yafei: FIRRMA Doesn't Make Sense
Veteran Chinese diplomat He Yafei argues that the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) targets China, and, if enacted, will hurt the Americans in the end.
The 19th Party Congress a Milestone
In this “He Talks” interview, Mr. He Yafei discusses the just concluded the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. “That’s the beginning of a new era – The New Era under President Xi Jinping,” he said.
He Yafei: China's New Era of Xi Jinping
What characterizes the "New Era under Xi"? What does "Xi Thought" means for China and the world?
Takeaways from the BRICS Summit
The 9th Annual BRICS Summit kicked off in Xiamen with President Xi’s keynote speech. He Yafei shares his impressions on the keynote address as well as the important messages conveyed through President Xi’s rhetoric.
Significance of BRICS
He Yafei delineates the achievements of BRICS members, in particular their contribution to the global economy and their ability to transform global governance.
Cooperation amongst BRICS
Throughout Xi’s speech, he consistently emphasized cooperation as a means to implement the interests of BRICS, to promote ideas they all share, and to collectively cope with difficulties.
BRICS: Encountering Headwinds
He Yafei dissects President Xi’s speech on BRICS having encountered “headwinds of varying intensity” and what it means both internally and externally for these countries moving forward.
Entering the “Post-America Era”
“The world is entering a post-America era,” says He Yafei. With BRICS changing the global governance landscape, He Yafei delves into this new concept and explains the characteristics of such an era.
BRICS Plus
BRICS is now at a critical juncture after a significant timespan from conception to international entity. Will this organization be accepting new members in the near future?
Is the U.S. Honeymoon with China Over?
He Yafei says that international relations are based on interests. "I would discourage of the use of 'honeymoon'".
He Yafei
Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
'This Relationship Trumps All'
Relations with the U.S. are important and consequential while at the same time complicated. He Yafei explains why a single issue, be it North Korea, Trade or South China Sea, should not hijack the bilateral ties.
He Yafei
Former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs