CAMDEN — Once again this year, the Camden Conference will focus on a timely and compelling topic. The 32nd annual Camden Conference, “Is This China’s Century?,” February 22, 23 and 24, 2019, will explore China as it emerges as a major global power, and faces complex challenges in its domestic economic, social, environmental and political affairs and its relations with Asian neighbors, the United States and the broader international community.

The Keynote speaker, Martin Jacques, will introduce the topic on Friday evening. He is the author of the global bestseller When China rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order. Jacques is a senior fellow in the Department of Politics and International Studies, Cambridge University, and a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, Beijing. 

Saturday morning will begin with a focus on Chinese society today.

Yuen Yuen Ang, an associate professor of political science at the University of Michigan is the author of How China Escaped the Poverty Trap.

Kaiser Kuo is the founder and host of the Sinica Podcast, a weekly, uncensored discussion of political and economic affairs in China.

Wrapping up the morning, Elizabeth Economy will address the Chinese Communist party and leadership. She is the C. V. Starr senior fellow and director for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Saturday afternoon will address three specific aspects of China. Yasheng Huang will cover the Chinese Economy. Huang is the international program professor in Chinese economy and business and a professor of global economics and management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.

George Yip is associate dean for Executive Programmes at Imperial College Business School in London. He was previously professor of strategy and co-director of the Centre on China Innovation at China Europe International Business School in Shanghai. He will address Chinese technology and innovation.

Ma Jun will close out the afternoon speaking on China and the Environment. Ma is director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) in Beijing, a leading environmental NGO.

Sunday’s program will shift to looking at China from the outside. Wu Xinbo and Yuki Tatsumi will discuss China and her neighbors. Wu is professor and dean of the Institute of International Studies and director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.

Yuki Tatsumi is co-director of the East Asia Program and director of the Japan Program at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC.

Lastly, Robert Daly will address U.S.- China relations. He is director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. 

The Conference takes place February 22, 23 and 24, 2019, live at the Camden Opera House with streaming to the Strand Theatre in Rockland, the Hutchinson Center in Belfast, and USM in Portland.

Conference Registration is now open and is available to purchase online at www.camdenconference.org.

The mission of the Camden Conference is to foster informed discourse on world issues.

For more information, visit www.camdenconference.org or call 207-236-1034.