On April 13, 2014 afternoon, deans (including five presidents) from the top 21 economics schools in China gathered at Tsinghua SEM, to participate in the 30th Anniversary of Tsinghua SEM Series Events - Deans of Economics Schools Symposium, to discuss in depth on the topics including China's economics education and research, along with China's economic development.
The event composed of two sessions: the closed-door roundtable and the public symposium. The roundtable was hosted by Tsinghua SEM Dean QIAN Yingyi and the topic discussed is "economics education and research in China".
Dean QIAN Yingyi gave opening remarks
In the public event, Dean QIAN Yingyi first gave opening remarks. Then, the launch of "China Journal of Economics" was witnessed by the guests and the audience. "China Journal of Economics" is a journal published by Tsinghua University Press, covering comprehensive areas of economics. The Journal provides a new channel for publishing original papers and reviews, and to promote China’s economic research to a higher level. Dean QIAN Yingyi, Deputy Chief Editor of Tsinghua University Press and Director of Tsinghua University Press Journals Center YAN Shuai together unveiled for the first issue ceremony.
First Issue Ceremony of "China Journal of Economics"
After the first issue ceremony, the symposium officially began. The first sub-symposium was hosted by Dean QIAN Yingyi with the topic: China's economic development and reform in the new phase. Dean QIAN Yingyi raised three issues worth exploring: a reasonable range of adjusting economic growth forecasts and potential risks, the role of government in economic structural adjustment and the international competitiveness of China's economy. Deans and presidents from economics schools first made their own predictions on China's economic growth rates and stated that China's rapid economic growth will also faces enormous challenges. Dean REN Baoping from School of Economics and Management, Northwestern University believes China’s traditional drivers for economic growth including resources and demographic dividend are gradually diminishing, a new growth model based on innovation needs to be established. Dean of Nanjing University Business School, SHEN Kunrong said, in order to promote sustainable economic development, there has to be a favorable environment for scientific and technological innovation, and improvements on production efficiency through reforms. Southwestern University of Finance and Economics President ZHANG Zongyi expressed his views on the structural problems between the eastern and western regions, he believes that there are two potential opportunities for the economic development in the western region, one is to undertake the production capacity transferred from the eastern region; the other one is to enhance its own innovative strength. Central University of Finance President WANG Guangqian believes that to achieve industrial restructuring, first need to address the overcapacity problem, and then combine industrial upgrading with industrial transfer. Capital University of Economics and Business President WANG Jiaqiong stated that, cultivation of international talents is crucial to enhance the competitiveness of the Chinese economy. Dean XIE Danyang from Economics and Management School of Wuhan University proposed that, over the next decade, the government should establish 5-10 cosmopolitan cities, so that China can attract global talents. Dean TIAN Guoqiang from School of Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics believes that to establish a modern market system, it is necessary to resolve the dislocation of government’s role, so that non- state-owned enterprises and private companies can play an equally important role in the market.
Sub-symposium One: China's Economic Development and Reform in the New Phase
The second sub-symposium was hosted by Tsinghua SEM Associate Dean, Department of Economics Chair, Freeman Chair Professor BAI Chong-en with the topic: challenges in China’s economic reform. Dean of the School of Economics, Peking University SUN Qixiang points out that the government should not interfere with specific economic activities, but rather protect legitimate property rights, create and maintain a fair and competitive market environment, provide equal basic public services. Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics President WANG Junhao puts forward his views on government regulations, he believes that to maintain efficient operation and order of the market, we need to improve the government's regulatory policies while building a scientific performance evaluation system. YUAN Zhigang compared the two models in the social security payment system including cash basis and fund basis, and proposed future development direction of China's social security system. Executive Dean of Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University CHEN Xian thinks that the development trend of service sector is increasingly open up, and the future focus is still production services, namely, manufacture-related services. President of Beijing Normal University School of Economics and Business Administration, LAI Desheng express that Chinese labor market should be integrated to optimize the structure of human capital, therefore it can provide a better development environment for small and micro enterprises and start-ups. Vice President of University of International Business and Economics, LIN Guijun pointed out that domestic market development and opening should be integrated, develop services that are open to international market, pay attention to the production reform of the global value chain, and lead the development of international rules. Associate Dean of School of Economics, Xiamen University, ZHU Mengnan believes that the internationalization of Renminbi is the inevitable result of the reform and opening up, it is also China's strategic choice for further development, but the value of the currency should be stable in order to avoid risks.
Sub-symposium Two: Challenges in China’s Economic Reform
The third sub-symposium was hosted by the Dean of the School of Economics of Renmin University Professor YANG Ruilong with the topic: enterprise development under the China’s deepening reform. Dean of School of Economics Liaoning University HUANG Jizhong suggested that the long-term goal of economic reform should have the non- state-owned and private sectors play a leading role in the market. Zhejiang University School of Economics, Executive Associate Dean HUANG Xianhai believes that the government's main task should be providing a good policy environment for export, industrial transformation and upgrading; SOE reform should particularly emphasize the creation of entrepreneurship. Dean of the School of Economics of Jilin University LI Junjiang believes that there should be a balance point between state-owned enterprises and private enterprises, and certain resources should be truly open to the private sector. LIANG Qi, President of Nankai University School of Economics spoke about financial innovation, he believes that China should make a fundamental innovation in basic financial derivative products, without having to do structured product innovation, so as not to bear the enormous financial risks. Sun Yat-Sen University, Lingnan College Dean XU Xinzhong considered the fundamentals of the reform as market-driven, and a fully competitive environment requires the protection of consumers. He ended the discussion with lively stories.
Sub-symposium Three: Enterprise Development under the China’s Deepening Reform
In the three and a half hours long symposium, over 20 distinguished guests expressed their views on the challenges and opportunities faced by China’s economic reform. All of them had great wishes and hopes for China’s future economic development.
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