The forum, themed on innovation and “new normal”, convened 70-plus experts from Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing and Shenzhen to discuss on innovation resources, mechanism and ecology under the “new normal”.

Date: November 24 to 25, 2016

Venue: Garden Hall, 4th Floor, Grand Skylight Garden Hotel, Shenzhen

Host: CDI, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Binhai Research Institute in Tianjin

Theme: Innovation Resources, Mechanism, and Ecology under the “New Normal”

Under the economic new normal, China’s economic development is in urgent need of vitality and dynamic driven by innovation and reform. Shanghai, Tianjin and Shenzhen have been actively adjusting to and navigating the new normal through innovation. Shanghai is comprehensively advancing the building of a scientific and technological innovation center with worldwide influence; Tianjin, as a national pilot site for innovation-driven development, continues to explore new paths; Shenzhen’s economic development model featuring quality and innovation has played a pioneering role in China. However, compared with major international innovation centers, the three cities are still faced with various problems: deficient and scattered innovation resources, lagging innovation mechanism, and lack of prospective innovation policies, just to name a few. In light of that, this Forum focuses on innovation-driven development, seeks to understand the opportunities and challenges arising from innovation and strives to promote innovation in the view of think tanks.

The theme of the roundtable discussion was “Charity Mechanism and Institution Building”. 20 philanthropic experts from UK, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland shared their ideas about charity mechanism and institution design.

Date: September 25, 2016

Venue: Peony Room, F5, Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, Shenzhen

Host: CDI

Theme: Charity Mechanism and Institution Design

In conclusion of the China Charity Fair 2016, different stakeholders from think tanks, charitable organizations, government, and universities attended the close-door roundtable discussion and shared their observations on charity mechanism and institution design, social governance, charity laws and regulations. The brainstorming session was aimed at provide innovative policy recommendations for sustainable development of China’s charity. China Charity Fair (CCF), an influential charity event annually held in Shenzhen, is committed to leveraging charitable resources and establishing an exchange platform and the event was themed on promoting goodness by laws and alleviating poverty with utmost efforts this year. Besides organizing the close-door roundtable discussion, CDI also coordinated 13 meetings of the event which invited more than 230 philanthropic researchers and practitioners. 

Themed on “Going Global: Pathway, Risk & Innovation”, the meeting convened entrepreneurs and experts to have discussions on approaches and risk management for Chinese enterprises that expand their business abroad. 

Date: August 6, 2016

Venue: Conference Hall, CDI Mansion, Shenzhen

Host: CDI, Shenzhen Soft Science Development Foundation

Theme: Going Global: Pathway, Risk and Innovation

The meeting gathered experts and entrepreneurs to have an intense discussion on Chinese enterprises going global in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Themed on the “Breakthrough Development of Jinan as a Regional Financial Center”, the forum explored the goal and approach of Jinan as a regional financial center with experts analyzing the opportunities and challenges for Jinan in the context of domestic financial innovation and reform. 

Date: July 5, 2016

Venue: Golden Hall, Shandong Hotel

Host: Jinan Municipal Financial Service Office; CDI; Qilu Bank

Theme: Breakthrough Development of Jinan as a Regional Financial Center

The forum explored the goal and pathway of Jinan as a regional financial center, analyzing the opportunities and challenges for Jinan in the context of domestic financial innovation and reform. 

The seminar, aimed at comprehensively implementing the east Shenzhen development strategy, invited domestic and overseas experts from organizations such as the Advisory Committee of Singapore Livable City Research and Development Center, Nomura Research Institute (NRI), World Bank, Development Research Center of the State Council, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and National Development and Reform Commission to give policy recommendations for east Shenzhen development. 

Date: June 25, 2016

Venue: Shenzhen Hall, Second Floor, Wuzhou Guest House, Shenzhen

Host: Shenzhen Pingshan New Area Management Committee, CDI

Theme: New Concepts and Pathways for the Development of East Shenzhen

2016 is the first year of the 13th Five-Year Plan, which is also a key period for the development of East Shenzhen. Therefore, the seminar gathered experts to have discussions on guidelines and pathways for the development of East Shenzhen. 

The seminar invited experts from Cornell University and CDI to have discussions on China’s urbanization. 

Date: June 18, 2016

Venue: Room 101, CDI Mansion, Shenzhen

Host: CDI, the Cornell East Asia Program, Shenzhen Soft Science Development Foundation

Theme: China’s Urbanization

Over the past 20 years, China has witnessed millions of migrant workers leaving their hometowns to work in the city. Such an unprecedented scale of population flow draws worldwide attention from scholars both at home and abroad. China’s Urbanization Seminar convened experts and scholars, including Professor Fan Gang, President of CDI, and Robin McNeal, Director of East Asia Program from Cornell University, had in-depth discussions over issues of China’s urbanization. 

The meeting was themed on “ODI: Strategy, Mechanism and Challenges” and it convened experts to discuss overseas direct investment of China. 

Date: May 7, 2016

Venue: Conference Hall, Second Floor, Jianguo Garden Hotel, Beijing

Host: CDI, Shenzhen Soft Science Development Foundation

Theme: ODI: Strategy, Mechanism and Challenges

At the end of 2015, China’s overseas direct investment (ODI) stock exceeded one trillion USD for the first time. In the first quarter of 2016, China’s non-finacial ODI reached 40.09 billion USD, up 55.4% on a year-on-year basis, and became a remarkable factor for China’s growth under the sluggish global economic conditions. In the context, Beijing Annual Meeting 2016, themed on “ODI: Strategy, Mechanism and Challenges”, gathered experts and entrepreneurs to have an intense discussion on ODI.