Closer international cooperation is needed in teaching and studying international relations, a leading specialist in the field said.

There is growing demand for expertise in international relations, with a Chinese perspective, since the country's development has sparked global interest, said Liu Hui, Party secretary of the University of International Relations.

The university has focused on academic research in international affairs and foreign languages since 1949 - the birth year of New China.

"At that time, China's foreign exchanges were mostly among high-level governmental authorities so the university mainly fostered students studying foreign affairs or in other fields associated with politics," Liu said.

The university is now looking at developing courses in a number of areas of which China is a central component, such as business and industry, international trade, government and international service, she said.

Disputes in international relations are mostly triggered by economic issues, said Liu, who is also a senior economics professor.

The university has witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of students that wish to attend classes on international relations.

Allied to this, an increasing number of overseas students expressed an interest in studying international relations and China's development.

A two-year international masters' program, focusing on China and its international relations, was jointly launched with Aalborg University in Denmark in 2011.

Both Chinese and overseas students studied Chinese and theories of international relations in Denmark in the first year before coming to China in the second year.

Zhu Sumei, deputy director of the International Politics Department at the University of International Relations, said it was a huge challenge teaching overseas students about the nation's political and economic system and its foreign policy.

"But it is a great opportunity to let them better understand China through various kinds of courses," she said.

For instance, Zhu's course is about China's political system and policymaking process.

"China's political system is unique and is undergoing changes. My course is designed to explore the important aspects of the country's political system and compare China's political system with that of Western countries," she said.

Besides Chinese students, graduates this year include students from Denmark, Poland, Iceland and the US.

"I tried my best to let overseas students understand that China has different national conditions compared with most countries," she said.

Jing Jing, 25, graduated this year and said that some issues in China, such as food safety, and trade between China and Africa are always hot topics among overseas students.

"Now I better understand what foreigners think about China since I studied with overseas students for the past two years," and this will be important for my future career, she said.

The university also launched an online magazine focusing on China and international relations with Aalborg University this year.

"More experts in the sector of international relations will present their voices about international affairs with a Chinese perspective through the magazine, which has both Chinese and English editions," said Party secretary Liu.

jinzhu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 10/24/2013 page7)