On the afternoon of March 8th, 2024, the Center for American Studies at Fudan University held an engaging academic lecture with former senior U.S. diplomat Robert D. Griffiths as the keynote speaker. The lecture, titled How the U.S. election could affect U.S.-China relations? A perspective from Utah, was chaired by Professor Wu Xinbo, the Dean of the Institute of International Studies and Director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University. The event attracted nearly 70 faculty members and students. The lecture is one of the CAS Lecture Series which are organized by the Center for American Studies at Fudan University. 

Griffiths, who has extensive experience in the U.S. Department of State, Congress, and the Department of Defense, has retired and now teaches Chinese and Southeast Asian politics at Brigham Young University in Utah. Over his 34-year career in diplomacy, he spent 23 years in Asia, including two terms at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, where he held the position of Consul General.

In his presentation, Griffiths offered insights into the current state of U.S.-China relations, suggested improvements, and explored how different outcomes of the 2024 U.S. election might impact the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Q&A session was particularly lively, with students and faculty engaging in discussions about U.S.-China relations from economic, trade, public policy, and social media perspectives. This exchange underscored the strong interest and concern within the Fudan community regarding the future of U.S.-China relations.