A professor from China predicted that China would become an international power in the near future although its leaders are still not united on how to manage China’s growth and political sway.

Dr. Qingguo Jia, a professor and associate dean at Peking University School of International Studies in Beijing, spoke last Wednesday at the Jackson/Ho China-East Asia Forum at the Dupont Room in the Marry Reed Building.

Jia discussed Chinese views of international order and justice, and the country’s growing presence in international politics.

“It’s not, will China’s rise change the world,” said Jia. “It’s how.”

China has had a difficult time with its rise to power because there are multiple philosophies among the elite as to how the country should be run, according to Jia.

Jia believes that in the United States, the elite share a certain set of values. “It’s at the margins of the society you’ll find the atheist, the Marxist, the anarchist.”

“In China, the elite don’t have a consensus on one set of values,” said Jia. “As long as the elite is divided in world views, the government can’t come up with one view on international justice and world order.”

Many of the older members of the Chinese elite subscribe to the old Marxist approach, as well as some younger ones.

Others, especially economists, who are very liberal and studied in the United States, are subscribing to more American mainstream views.

“China is in the process of drastic transitions,” said Jia.

He also believes that China is a strong supporter of the United Nations.

While China believes that Third World countries should be better represented, China’s inability to find a core set of values makes it difficult for it to know what to advocate.

“I wish China knew what to advocate,” said Jia.

After the lecture, students and faculty in the audience were given an opportunity to ask questions.

The Jackson/Ho Forum is sponsored by the Center for China-United States Cooperation at the Graduate School of International Studies.

The purpose is “building a bridge in the search for mutual understanding, prudent policies and the positive resolution of disputes among the people of the United States and Greater China.”