Mr. Zhang Xi, Secretary to the CPC, Zhejiang University, extended a warm welcome to everyone attending the conference. Mr Zhang Xi appreciated that the conference – which was bringing together many eminent scholars from China and elsewhere – would provide a wonderful opportunity to discuss important issues relating to traditional and non-traditional security concerns. The timing was particularly appropriate, not least because there was now growing recognition of the need for greater cooperation among states and other actors in international society. Such cooperation was essential to the enhancement of world peace and development in a situation where all countries faced complex challenges posed by both traditional and non-traditional security threats.

Mr Zhang Xi also explained that Zhejian University is a comprehensive and research oriented University, proud of its long history, yet also keen to develop further to become one of the leading universities in the world. It has already successfully supported many NTS research teams – investigating areas such as energy security, policy simulation, and public security – and their work has generated many valuable research outcomes. Zhejiang University will continue to do everything possible to develop its research cooperation with world-leading universities and institutions, particularly in the field of NTS studies.