On November 24, 2025, a press conference for the 2025 "Understanding China" International Conference (Guangzhou) was held in Beijing. Xu Weixin, Chairman of the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy (CIIDS) and former Vice President of the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Zou Xiaoli, Vice President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, Deng Hong, Deputy Director of the Information Office of Guangdong Province, and Bao Wei, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee, attended the conference. Feng Wei, Vice Chairman of CIIDS, presided over the event.

The 2025 "Understanding China" International Conference is scheduled to take place in Guangzhou from November 30 to December 2, 2025. The conference will convene under the theme of "New Plan, New Development, New Choices -- Chinese Modernization and and New Vision for Global Governance", focusing on the 15th Five-Year Plan and its global significance, and gather high-profile guests including world-renowned statesmen, scholars, industry leaders, and representatives of international organizations to explore topics such as the new innovative pathways to the Chinese modernization, the new opportunities they will bring for advancing the world modernization, and joint actions to implement the Global Governance Initiative.

The conference is co-organized by the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy, the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, and the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and hosted by Guangzhou Municipal People's Government. Spanning three days, the conference features an opening ceremony, leadership speeches, keynote addresses, guest dialogues, four parallel seminars, nineteen thematic forums, three Greater Bay Area dialogues, five closed-door seminars, and a series of supporting activities. Except for the closed-door seminars, all other sessions and related activities will be open to the media.

To date, approximately 200 international representatives and delegates from Hong Kong and Macao have confirmed their participation, hailing from 72 countries and regions. Among them, 70% are from Global South countries, and 70% are attending the conference for the first time. The on-site participants include 7 former statesmen at or above the vice-premier level, 11 at the ministerial level, and 5 foreign envoys and representatives of international organizations in China. More than 300 Chinese guests will deliver speeches, with the total number of participants expected to reach around 800.

A notable feature of this year's conference is the wide geographical coverage and extensive representativeness of its international participants. Introducing the guests, Xu Weixin stated: "The proportion of representatives from Global South countries at this year's conference has increased significantly, indicating that the influence of the 'Understanding China' International Conference is expanding day by day. It has become an important international exchange channel and platform for Global South countries to learn from the successful experience of Chinese modernization and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind." Regarding the distinctive characteristics of the conference's thematic settings, she emphasized four key aspects: first, promoting the 15th Five-Year Plan and summarizing the 14th Five-Year Plan; second, demonstrating the global significance of Chinese modernization; third, disseminating the four major global initiatives and elaborating on the global contributions of Chinese solutions; fourth, showcasing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a new height of China's reform and opening-up, highlighting its image and unique charm.

Faced with the ever-changing and unpredictable international situation, and the accelerating and profound changes in the world today, Xu Weixin summarized the important role of the "Understanding China" International Conference in international exchanges with three "consistent commitments". She noted that as a bridge for cultural and ideological exchanges between China and foreign countries, the conference aims to convey the following message to the world: in the new era, China will consistently contribute to world peace and tranquility, consistently contribute to common global development, and consistently contribute to the exchange and mutual learning of world civilizations. It will work with people of all countries to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Zou Xiaoli stated that for over a decade, the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) has walked side by side with the Understanding China International Conference, actively fostering friendships, both broad and deep, with partners around the world in the shared endeavor to help the world better understand China. Through this effort, CPIFA has consistently promoted communication, friendship, and cooperation between China and other countries. In recent years, the Understanding China initiative has seen its global circle of friends steadily expand, and the international influence and appeal of the Understanding China International Conference have grown year after year. Zou emphasized that CPIFA will continue to fully leverage this important platform, give full play to its unique strengths, and work hand in hand with all parties to tell China’s story, tell the story of the Communist Party of China, and tell the story of Chinese modernization, thereby continuously writing new chapters in the Understanding China cause.

Introducing the conference preparations, Deng Hong said: "The CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the People's Government of Guangdong Province have actively promoted the 'Understanding China' International Conference as an important platform to serve the country's overall diplomacy and deepen foreign exchanges. This year’s conference will further strengthen international engagement, enabling the global community to gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Guangdong, and through the multifaceted lens of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s innovation-driven development, industrial upgrading, and green transition to better perceive the Bay Area and truly understand China.”

Bao Wei stated that for this year's conference, focusing on "Understanding Chinese Modernization in Guangzhou," a series of supporting activities under the theme "Understanding Guangzhou" have been designed. Additionally, the "Guangzhou: A City that Beautifies the World" excellent works exhibition and the "Tasting Guangzhou, Walking along the Pearl River" urban experience activities will be organized, encouraging domestic and foreign guests to perceive the vivid practices and development pulse of Chinese modernization while getting to know Guangzhou.

At the conclusion of the press conference, Vice Chairman Feng Wei, in response to a journalist’s question, stated: "The Understanding China initiative is a shared endeavor between China and countries around the world, and its international circle of friends continues to expand. One of our latest partners is the renowned Russian think tank, the Valdai Discussion Club. Last month, I was invited to attend the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club on behalf of CIIDS, where I raised a question to Russian President Vladimir Putin on site and asked him to deliver a message to the audience of the 'Understanding China' International Conference. President Putin responded earnestly, saying, 'I would like to say to the brothers and sisters of China that we are on the right path. We must stay the course, cherish the profound relations we have built, and further strengthen cooperation with each other. This is of great importance to both the Chinese and Russian peoples.' He sincerely added, 'Thank you for all your efforts in the past and present. I wish you every success and will do my utmost to support you.' I believe President Putin's blessing is a strong testament to the continuous expansion of the international influence and the growing international circle of friends of the 'Understanding China' platform."