Professor Ping Xu made the keynote speech titled “Crossing the Continents: Strengthening Global Partnerships in Public Policy Innovation” on June 15 at the first International Academic Conference on China's Public Policy Research "China's Public Policy Research in a Global Perspective: Theory and Practice".

Professor Ping Xu first expressed her great pleasure to participate the conference. After that, she talked about why global partnerships were so important in the field of public policy research. Firstly, because we live a world with lots of challenges, whether it be climate change or global pandemics, or the various risks and challenges brought about by the rapid development of science and technology. Secondly, in response to the potential challenges brought by scientific and technological progress, we need to propose solutions to develop and advance artificial intelligence in an ethical manner, respond to the societal impact of automation on society, and also safeguard the privacy and security of data communication technology. Thirdly, global partnerships in the field of public policy are very important for us to obtain diverse expertise. When policy scholars from different countries come together, they can propose different policy issues and solutions. Fourthly, we live in a world with increasing political tensions and deepening differences between superpowers. Policy scholars need to come together to enhance mutual understanding. Policies formulated by one country are sometimes deeply misunderstood or even criticized by another country. At this time, policy scholars must clarify these policies and communicate in order to enhance mutual understanding. In addition, many policy challenges transcend national borders. No single country can provide all the answers, and no single country can solve all policy problems in isolation. Therefore, it is not only desirable but also necessary for policy scholars to come together to cooperate and communicate with each other.

Regarding how to strengthen global partnerships in the field of public policy research, Professor Ping Xu provided three channels, including research cooperation and publication, international conferences and networking, as well as strengthening the governance of international policy organizations. Firstly, Professor Ping Xu collected data on international collaboration from the articles published in the top international policy journals. By collecting data on the percentage of international cooperation publications in the top international policy journals, it can be seen that the trend of international cooperation in policy research is increasing. About 20 years ago, the percentage of internationally collaborated publications in the four major policy journals, including Policy Studies Journal, Policy and Politics, Journal of Public Policy and Review of Policy Research, was only about 5%, but this number increased to about 20% to 25% in 2023. In other words, as of today, about one fifth or one quarter of research publications are completed by scholars who collaborated with other researchers from a country. The trend itself shows the importance of international cooperation among scholars, which is also the future trend of policy research.

Secondly, China policy research has performed exceptionally well in international journals and international conferences. More and more China policy research has been accepted by international conferences and international journals. Professor Xu Ping collected data on China policy research published in nine major policy journals, including Policy and Society, Climate Policy, Policy Sciences, Policy Studies Journal, Journal of European Public Policy, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Policy and Politics, Journal of Public Policy and Review of Policy Research. From 2000 to 2024, a total of 154 papers on China policy research were published in the 9 major policy journals, with a growth rate of about 7.3% annually, and each paper was cited an average of 20 times. The growth in the number of China policy publications is very obvious. The initial stage was from 2000 to 2011, during this period of time, China research began to make its way to the top policy journals. The second phase was from 2012 to 2017, or the expansion phase, during this period, more China policy research was published in these top journals. The last stage is from 2018 to 2024, which is an advancement phase, the growth in the number of publications is even more significant. Breaking down by journals, Professor Xu points out that Review of Policy Research published the largest number of China research, with 46 articles, Policy and Society published 28 articles, and Policy and Politics as well as Climate Policy published 15 articles respectively. These four journals therefore can be considered as very friendly to China policy research.

Professor Ping Xu also collected data on China research papers being accepted at international conferences. By using the American Political Science Association as an example, she collected data on the number of panels featuring at least one China policy paper at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association. The number has increased from about 100 panels in 2015 to more than 200 panels in 2024. The number of panels with China policy papers has doubled in the past 10 years. She also looked at data on China policy research being accepted by different policy-related sections of APSA. For instance, the Public Policy Section, Health Politics and Policy Section, Science, Technology, and Environmental Politics Section, Foreign policy Section all saw an increasing trend of accepting China policy research papers, especially in recent years.

In addition, Chinese institutions have taken the lead to host international journals. China policy scholars have also stepped up and taken leadership roles in various international policy organizations.

In summary, Professor Ping Xu said that in the past two decades, we saw an increasing trend of international collaboration, more and more China research has been published in top international policy journals, more and more Chinese papers have been accepted by international conferences. At the same time, Chinese institutions and universities have made more and more efforts to host international journals. China policy scholars have played a more active and important role in creating and serving in international policy organizations. All these trends were due to two factors: on the one hand, China policy scholars have made more efforts to submit papers to international journals, conferences and to serve in international policy organizations. At the same time, the international academic community is also truly interested in learning about China and communicating with China. She hopes this trend will continue and would like to see more China policy research on the international stage in the future.

Introduction to Keynote Speakers

Dr. Ping Xu is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island and the Graduate Director of the MA in International Relations program. Currently, she is serving as the President of the Public Policy Section of American Political Science Association (APSA). Her research interests include welfare policy, immigration policy, political economy, Chinese politics, public opinion and political communication. Her work has been published in journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, The Policy Studies Journal, The China Quarterly, New Media and Society, Telematics and Informatics, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, American Politics Research, and Social Science Quarterly, as well as in edited volumes like the Oxford Handbook of State and Local Politics.