On March 30, 2026, the Hong Kong Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (IHSS) and the Institute of Transnational History of China (ITHC) at HKU jointly organized a book launch event on the HKU campus to celebrate the publication of Prof. Guoqi Xu’s latest work, The Idea of China: A Contested History (Harvard University Press). Prof. Xu, a distinguished Professor of Chinese History at HKU’s Department of History, introduced his new book and posed thought-provoking questions: What counts as China? Who counts as Chinese? What defines “Chineseness”? Using the methodology of transnational history, Prof. Xu explores and answers these fundamental questions.

Prof. Zhiwu Chen, Director of IHSS and Chair Professor in Finance at HKU Business School, participated in the discussion session, which was moderated by Prof. Shen Haipeng, Chair Professor in Business Analytics and Innovation at HKU Business School. Prof. Chen shared insights into the evolution of China’s national identity, illustrating this with the concept of the Idea of China as depicted in West European maps.

The panelists focused on Prof. Xu’s book, demonstrating how the notion of ‘being Chinese’ has been continuously reshaped throughout history. They emphasized that nationalism and the idea of China are complex and dynamic, constantly influenced by interactions with neighboring countries, external actors, and Chinese communities around the world.