BAI vice-president Yao Guangye headed a 15-member delegation to Sweden on international academic symposium over the origin and development of political thoughts between China and the West. Mr. Yao and 15 experts and scholars from Beijing Administration Institute, Guangxi Administrative College, Sichuan Administrative College and Capital University of Economics and Business were invited by Uppsala University in Sweden. They exchanged views with over ten professors of Uppsala University on the differences in political thoughts between eastern and western societies. The vice-president delivered a passionate opening address and made concluding remarks at the closing ceremony. BAI professor Hou Qiean, associate professor Li Xiumei and two other teachers, Mr. Liu Yonghong and Mr. Li Jin from the Department of Philosophy made speeches entitled reflection over the differences in political concepts between China and the West, Confucius thoughts and its significance in the legal system construction of modern China, Confucius thoughts and its place in the world, and the development and significance of Chinas civil society. The international academic symposium was characterized by full and all-around preparation. All the submitted theses were written in English and went through careful study by foreign scholars prior to the discussion during which a limited amount of time was allocated to elaborate on the core ideas of the theses to focus on the Q & A.