Conflict prevention working group

Background

The Conflict Prevention Working Group (CPWG), made up of three Chinese and three UK experts, forms the core of the China programme’s project on ‘Conflict prevention partnership for the 21st century: China and the UK’

The project was conceived because dialogue between China and western states on conflict affected and fragile states is often overshadowed by overly politicised debates on the merits of military intervention and the incompatibility of western policies and practices with the long-standing principles of Chinese foreign policy. These differences can obstruct meaningful dialogue on opportunities for practical cooperation. Therefore it was considered that a process of policy dialogue restricted to issues of conflict prevention may be more fruitful and expose greater levels of common interest, shared beliefs and opportunities for cooperative actions.

Furthermore, the project builds upon commitments made by the Chinese and British governments to work together on global development issues and poverty reduction in a range of sectors, including conflict prevention, as pledged in a 2011 Memorandum of Understanding between China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), and more recently in a joint statement issued between the two countries in June 2014.

Aims of the Conflict Prevention Working Group

  • Create opportunities for constructive dialogue on conflict prevention among international experts, including those from the UK, China, and conflict affected or fragile states.
  • Develop a source of expertise and knowledge on the policies, practices and attitudes towards conflict prevention in both China and the UK.
  • Identify policy areas where China-UK dialogue or cooperation on conflict prevention could be most productive.

Who are the Conflict Prevention Working Group members?

  • Dr SHENG Hongsheng, Professor of Public International Law, School of International Law, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law
  • Dr ZHANG Chun, Senior Research Fellow; Deputy Director, Department of West Asian and African Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS)
  • David NYHEIM, Chief Executive, Europe Conflict and Security Consulting (ECAS) Ltd.
  • Mariam KEMPLE, Head of Humanitarian Campaigning, Oxfam International
  • Rob PARKER, Director of Policy and Communications, Saferworld
  • Col (ret.) Christopher LANGTON, Head, Independent Conflict Research and Analysis (ICRA); Advisor to the CPWG
  • Dr XUE Lei, Assistant Researcher, Centre for International Law and International Organisations, SIIS; Advisor to the CPWG

Read more about the 'Conflict Prevention in the 21st Century' project.

Read our reports on the Conflict Prevention Working Group workshops:

Read the CPWG joint briefings:

Read the final CPWG report, Conflict prevention in the 21st century: China and the UK