2018 IASIA-LAGPA Conference was held in Lima, Peru from 23 to27 July. Focusing on the theme of globalization, regionalism and integration, Professor Zhao, director of CWAS was invited to deliver a speech on Analysis of Chinese Economic and National Security Interests in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under the Framework of One Belt One Road (OBOR) from national security perspective by introducing OBRB and CPEC first, discussing the governance and security challenges and measures to cope with. There were more than 100 scholars and practitioners from 58 countries attending this conference.

Over the conference, on behalf of the Center for West African Studies UESTC, Professor Zhao extended the invitation to scholars and practitioners who are interested in African studies for research collaborations . The 2018 International Conference on Public Administration (ICPA) was also publicized and invitations were extended to experts and scholars attending 2018 International Conference on Public Administration and the Sessions on West African Studies from Nov.30-Dec.2, 2018.