The world is undergoing great changes unprecedented in over a century. Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, profound adjustments have been seen in the international economy, science and technology, culture, and in the security and political landscapes. In 2021, the post-epidemic world situation still faces great challenges. How can we observe and understand the world amid these great changes? How should China, as one of the most influential actors amid the changes, respond to it? To answer these questions, the Institute of Area Studies, Peking University, in partnership with PKU's School of Economics, hosted a series of New Buds salons titled, "Senior diplomats talk about the unprecedented great changes in over a century" on the occasion of the third anniversary of the establishment of the Institute.

The 33rd New Buds Salon, on May 11, invited former Chinese ambassador to Brazil, Li Jinzhang, to give a keynote presentation focusing on the topic of the unprecedented changes in over a century that are now facing the world. Based on his decades of diplomatic experience, and against the backdrop of these changes, Ambassador Li analyzed the evolution of the international landscape, new developments in Sino-US relations and Sino-Latin American relations, and how China will deal with the new opportunities and new challenges emerging in the post-epidemic external environment. After his presentation, Ambassador Li exchanged ideas with the student audience on how to learn Portuguese well and how to plan their careers after graduation.