Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished research fellow at the Institute of Asian Studies of the National University of Singapore, was awarded the Contribution Award to Chinese Studies together with two other foreign scholars at the "World Conference on Chinese Studies · Shanghai Forum" held on November 24. In his acceptance speech via video, he stressed that improving understanding of China will help eliminate the deep fear of the United States and other Western countries about the Chinese threat, and promote major powers to work together to solve global challenges.

Mr Mahbubani points out that China and India were the world's two largest economies from the beginning of AD until 1820, and that the real anomaly in human history has been the dominance of the West over the past 200 years. All anomalies come to a natural end, which explains the resurgence of China, India, and other Asian societies.

He added: "Unfortunately, Western leaders and policymakers are not prepared intellectually or emotionally to embrace the 'Asian 21st century' unfolding before our eyes."

He further argues that a little study of Chinese history and an understanding of China's zero record of colonial expansion abroad can help American policymakers dispel deep fears about the Chinese threat. "China is not threatening the United States. In fact, China is willing to work with the United States and other global powers to solve looming global challenges."

In an interview with Shanghai's Dragon TV on the eve of the forum, Mahbubani said many Americans want the United States to remain the world's top power, and they believe the way to do that is to contain China. As a result, he predicts that Sino-US competition will accelerate over the next decade, and "people should be prepared for tough times to come."

But he also pointed out that most countries in the world, including ASEAN countries, do not want to take sides in the Sino-US competition. "I hope that as more and more countries show they are not willing to take sides, the US can learn to get along with China instead of trying to contain its development."

Talking about the Sino-US science and technology war, Mahbubani said that the United States to reduce scientific and technological cooperation with China is a mistake, and the blockade of Chinese science and technology, may cause China's development speed to slow down in some areas, but will not change the basic development trajectory, "because all countries that try to stop China's scientific and technological development have failed."