On December 22–24, 2025, an academic seminar was held within the framework of the Khazar Talks-3 project, organized by the Department of Political Science and Philosophy of Khazar University. As part of the seminar series, Assoc. Prof. Tolga Bilener, Director of the Strategic Research Center at Galatasaray University (Türkiye), delivered a series of lectures on the topic “Chinese Foreign Policy: Concepts, Actors, and Regional Dynamics.” The event attracted great interest from the university administration, faculty members, and students.

It should be noted that the Khazar Talks project was organized for the first time in the 2024–2025 academic year and for the second time in December of this year by the Department of Political Science and Philosophy. Within the framework of the project, meetings with ambassadors, academic seminars, and book presentations are planned.

On the first day of the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Tolga Bilener delivered a comprehensive presentation on “Foundations and Parameters of Chinese Foreign Policy.” This session focused on the historical, ideological, and institutional foundations of China’s foreign policy. Particular attention was paid to the impact of the “Century of Humiliation” (XIX-XX centuries) on Chinese strategic thinking, the political legacies of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, and the influence of post-1978 reforms on China’s foreign policy.

On December 23, lectures were delivered on “US–China Relations: Rivalry, Interdependence, and Strategic Competition” and “Sino-Turkish Relations: Strategic Ambivalence and Pragmatic Engagement.” The first session examined the historical evolution of US–China relations and the nature of contemporary strategic competition, explaining how the relationship has transformed from the 1972 rapprochement into an increasingly competitive dynamic. The following session analyzed the historical, economic, and geopolitical dimensions of Sino-Turkish relations, emphasizing the limited yet gradually expanding nature of bilateral ties from the Ottoman period to the present day.

The final day of the seminar was dedicated to “China’s Engagement in Central Asia and the Caucasus.” This session focused on China’s strategic interests in the Eurasian region, with particular emphasis on energy security, stability in the Xinjiang region, and the importance of overland connectivity.

Following each seminar session, Assoc. Prof. Tolga Bilener responded to questions from the audience and engaged in extensive discussions. At the conclusion of the event, Dr. Raziya Isayeva, Rector of Khazar University, presented Assoc. Prof. Tolga Bilener with a commemorative gift and a plaque on behalf of the university. The seminar concluded with a group photo taken by the participants.

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