The rise of China is transforming the geopolitical landscape. If current growth rates continue, China is expected to become the world's largest economy by the middle of the century, if not before. Her strong economic growth coupled with substantial financial reserves means that China’s international prestige is high. This economic 'coming of age' is increasingly being recognised by a place at the top table of world leaders. In his lecture, Lord Patten discussed how Britain and Europe should engage with a country that will shortly be once again the largest economy in the world.

The Rt. Hon Lord Patten of Barnes CH has held a number of senior national and international appointments including: Conservative Member of Parliament for Bath (1979 to 1992); Secretary of State for the Environment (1989); Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chairman of the Conservative Party (1990); Governor of Hong Kong, overseeing the return of Hong Kong to China (1992 to 1997); and European Commissioner for External Relations (1999 to 2004). He was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford in 2003.

Bob Ainsworth was appointed Secretary of State for Defence on 5 June 2009. A Coventry trade unionist and former local councillor with strong roots in the city, he was elected Member of Parliament for Coventry North East in 1992. He was a long serving Whip in both Opposition and Government before he was promoted to his first ministerial position after Peter Mandelson's second resignation in January 2001.

He served five months as junior minister in the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and after the General Election he was moved to the Home Office with responsibility for Anti-drugs Co-ordination and Organised Crime. In the reshuffle of June 2003, he returned to the Whips’ Office on promotion to Deputy Chief Whip. He served as Minister of State for the Armed Forces prior to his current appointment.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind was elected as MP for Pentlands in 1974 and represented that constituency until 1997. He became a member of the Cabinet in 1986 as Secretary of State for Scotland. In 1990 he became Secretary of State for Transport and in 1992 Secretary of State for Defence. From 1995 to 1997 he was Foreign Secretary. He served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Welfare Reform until December 2005 when he chose to return to the backbenches. He has been selected to fight the new Kensington constituency at the next General Election.

He has also been active in a number of voluntary organisations. Sir Malcolm is a member of the Dulverton Trust, a Vice President of Combat Stress and a Patron of Raleigh International. He has served on the Court of Edinburgh University and is an honorary colonel. He is also a member of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Royal Company of Archers.

ïïïïAir Chief Marshal Paul Dike is currently Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigeria Armed Forces. He is also Chairman of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff. His previous posts have included Chief of Air Staff (Nigeria Air Force); Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet; and Commander of the ECOMOG Air Detachment in Freetown, Sierra Leone. His awards include the National Honour Award; Forces Service Star and Distinguished Service Star.

For more info: ïhttp://www.rusi.org/events/past/ref:E4B8E314490E6E/ï

In the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester, RUSI will launch a series of public lectures exploring flood risk and the built environment. The inaugural lecture was given by Robert Runcie, Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency.

The lecture discussed the medium and long-term strategy for managing flood risk and enhancing flood resilience in the United Kingdom and will address the implementation of the recommendations made by The Pitt Review. This formal presentation was followed by a panel discussion in which members of the Inter Institutional Flood Risk Management Group posed questions to Mr Runcie, following which the discussion will be opened up to the wider audience.

Set against the backdrop of the Wootton Bassett phenomenon, a high-profile panel of speakers will came together to discuss our country’s historical approach to remembrance, and whether there is more we could be doing to honour those British servicemen and women who have died in armed conflicts.

Chaired by Channel 4 television presenter, Jon Snow, the debate heard contributions from:

• Former UK Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt GCB CBE MC
• Director General of the Imperial War Museum, Diane Lees
• Director-General of the Royal British Legion, Chris Simpkin
• Artist and Professor of Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University, David Cotterrell

Bob Ainsworth discussed the progress being made in Afghanistan, addressing issues of operational welfare and support to troops on operations. He also set out the government’s commitment to Armed Forces personnel in general, including mapping out the implementation of the Service Personnel Command Paper published last year.

This new site also marks the launch of RUSI Analysis. This updated online forum will host incisive commentary from experts around the world.

The update to RUSI.org aims to enhance the way RUSI responds to and shapes the global agenda.

Admiral James Stavridis said that NATO must become 'lean, fast and precise' in order to meet an expanded range of threats in the twenty-first century, as it prepares a new Strategic Concept.

In particular, Admiral Stavridis warned that the North Atlantic alliance faced new priorities in cybersecurity and counter-terrorism, and a new area of operations in the High North with the thaw of the Arctic ice. 

The Minister outlined how the UK Armed Forces are defending the UK's security interests in Afghanistan and those operations fit in with the UK's wider counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. He stressed that the vast majority of the Muslim community was appalled by terrorist groups like Al-Qaâida and that Islam was being used as a mere âsmoke-screenâ to carry out extremist aims. Indeed, he stressed the support of the Afghan people for the mission and conceded that rather than an imposition of Western values on the country, the campaign aims to provide a more secure future for Afghanistan. Ultimately, the Minister remained optimistic about UK efforts on the campaign, and although he conceded that counter-terrorism efforts could not take place solely by military intervention, he valued the input of the Armed Forces in maintaining UK security.

The former US Defense Secretary then went on to reveal his role during this tumultous time in international security