Expectations that China would adhere to the rule of law are rising. How will it develop and reform its system of domestic governance, and how will it deal with the problem of human rights?

The guest speaker at the seventh in the series of symposiums on Reconstructing Values for the Global Age will be Luo Haocai, president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, who until the most recent National People's Congress served as the vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In the panel discussion, Luo will be joined by Akio Harada, president of the International Civil and Commercial Law Centre Foundation and former prosecutor general. The discussion will be moderated by The Tokyo Foundation Distinguished Fellow Masahiko Aoki

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The sixth in the series of symposiums on Reconstructing Values for the Global Age features professor of politics and international affairs John Ikenberry of Princeton University and Han Sung-Joo, chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. They will discuss a broad range of topics, including the impact of rapid globalization on the international regime, the democratic decision-making process in the international community, and each country’s diplomatic strategy in the age of globalization. During the ensuing panel discussion, moderated by Senior Research Fellow Shinichi Kitaoka, debate will center on diplomatic strategy and leadership in the age of globalization, with reference to the recent presidential election in the Republic of Korea and the upcoming contest in the United States.

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These inherent contradictions, though, are forcing the country to make tough reform choices. Will it create a more democratic legal system to further promote its market economy? How will it rectify the increasingly glaring polarization of income distribution in the country? And will the rampant corruption resulting from the privatization of state assets trigger a retreat from additional reliance on market forces?

These issues will be addressed by Professor Wu Jinglian, one of modern China's leading economists and a strong proponent of the shift to a market economy. In the ensuing panel discussion—to be moderated by Masahiko Aoki, Distinguished Fellow of the Tokyo Foundation—experts will debate the future of Sino-Japanese economic relations and their impact on the global economy.

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The fourth symposium will be held as a public meeting of the Tokyo Foundation’s United Nations Research Project, welcoming President Jakob Kellenberger of the International Committee of the Red Cross as a speaker. The ICRC engages in the protection and relief of victims of conflict while daily confronting the stark realities challenging human dignity. Kellenberger will share with us how it puts to practice such fundamental principles as humanity, neutrality, and independence.

The panel discussion will look at the challenges and outlook for Japan, which is involved in peace building at every level and aspires to become a peace cooperation state. Sadako Ogata and Koji Tsuruoka will join in to share their views, introducing such practical perspectives as human security and the safety of humanitarian assistance personnel.

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