CDI has been designated as one of the 25 China Top Think Tanks in a pilot project of the Chinese government since 2015.

List of the 25 China Top Think Tanks:

Development Research Center of the State Council
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chinese Academy of Engineering
Party School of the Central Committee of C.P.C
Chinese Academy of Governance
Central Compilation & Translation Bureau
Xinhua News Agency
Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army
National Defence University PLA China
National Institute for Finance & Development
National Institute for Global Strategy, CASS
China Institute of Contemporary International Relations
Academy of Macroeconomic Research, NDRC
Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, MOFCOM
National School of Development, PKU
Center for China Studies, Tsinghua University
National Academy of Development Strategy, RUC
China Institute, Fudan University
Wuhan University Institute of International Law 
Institute of Guangdong Hong Kong and Macao Development Studies, Sun Yat-sen University
Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute
China Center for International Economic Exchanges
China Development Institute

On December 22, 2015, Delegation from the Japan-China Economic Association (JCEA) led by Director Ms. Sogawa Mika visited CDI and met with Executive Vice President Dr. Guo Wanda and other research fellows. The discussion was centered on how to achieve a low-carbon economy in urban planning and industrial upgrading. Institutional innovation in the green economy of Shenzhen and specific cases of eco-industrial parks were shared with the Japanese delegation. According to Guo, smarter cities are a way to green and sustainable economic growth.

On November 2nd, Mr. Bengt Johansson, Founder of New Context AB and former Swedish Consul-General in Shanghai paid a visit to CDI and exchanged views with Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department and Ms. Yu Jun, Researcher at CDI. Mr. Bengt Johansson who was also Swedish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Ambassador, has been dedicated to CSR research and teaching for many years. Based on the specific cases, the two parties discussed how to launch projects of research and consultation on CSR in the future.

On October 23, Mr. David Hartman, Executive Director of Greater China Division, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada paid a visit to CDI and had a discussion on Shenzhen’s economic development with Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department and Dr. Liu Guohong, Deputy Director of Finance and Modern Industry Research Center. Dr. Liu mainly elaborated on Shenzhen’s economic strategy adjusted to China’s “new normal”, features of Qianhai & Shekou Area of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Shenzhen’s industrial upgrading.

On October 14, a field study team headed by Dr. Lin Huihuang from Institute of Public Policy of South China University of Technology (SCUT) and Dr. Wang Ou from School of Public Administration of SCUT visited to learn about the operating model of CDI, a successful think tank. Mr. Liu Rui, Assistant to the President, Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department and Mr. Zheng Yujie, Director of IT Department met with the research team. Mr. Zheng Yujie introduced development course, research and consultation, and management mechanism about CDI. The research fellows hold that our successful experience was worth learning for the building of new types of think tanks in China.

On September 26, Mr. David Morris, Trade Commissioner of Pacific Islands Trade & Invest, visited CDI and exchanged views with Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department. Director Feng Yueqiu briefed the delegation about the history, research and consultation, exchanges, and operation mechanisms of CDI. The two parties agreed on research & consultation cooperation and academic exchanges to promote China’s trade, investment and tourism ties with 14 Pacific Island countries.

On August 26, Korean Delegation from Gyeonggi-do led by Lim, Hae Kyu, President of Gyeonggi Research Institute (GRI) visited CDI, and the two think tanks signed a co-operation agreement. To begin with, President Lim and Executive Vice President Guo Wanda made thorough introductions about the two institutes respectively and Cui Xiande, Head of Gyeonggi-do Provincial Department of Economy, and Li Luoli, Vice Director-General of CDI briefed development of Gyeonggi-do and Shenzhen. Based on that, the two sides explored collaboration potentials in high-tech industry and think tank development and signed a cooperation agreement to realize the pragmatic collaboration.

Mr. Matt Perrement, British Consul in Guangzhou for political and economic affairs, visited CDI and met Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of the institute and Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department. Dr. Guo Wanda Briefed the background and priorities of promoting development of eastern, western and northern area in Guangdong, and mainly analyzed the role of government in the course of city transformation and upgrading, e.g. strengthening construction of infrastructure and public services, creating fair and honest business environment, developing rational city planning and effective market supervision. Dr. Guo Wanda indicated that Guangdong would actively participate in construction of “One Belt and One Road”, integrate logistics hub of “Grand Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao”, Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in Guangdong and cross-border trade of e-commerce.

Mr. Chris Yost, Australian Consul in Guangzhou for political and economic affairs, visited CDI and met with Dr. Zhang Jiansen, Director of Finance and Modern Industry Research Center, Dr. Yu Lingqu, whose research focuses on financial industry, and Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department. The interview intention was to grasp the full picture about status quo of China’s securities market. With the emphasis on Shenzhen securities market, Dr. Zhang explained its difference with its counterpart in Shanghai and its relation with Hong Kong stock market. Dr. Zhang held that considering its active capital flow and high level opening up, Shenzhen securities market still has huge development potential, while government shall play a better role as a regulator to promote its marketization. From a micro perspective, Dr. Yu illustrated the growth momentum with specific data and operation mechanism of Shenzhen stock market.

EMBA student delegation from management school of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) paid a visit to CDI for a lecture on Shenzhen Special Economic Zone presented by Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of the institute and met with Dr. Zhang Jiansen, Director of Finance and Modern Industry Research Center and Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department. Ms. Feng first briefly introduced CDI in terms of the establishment purpose, research and consultation focus, and academic exchange. Dr. Guo gave the students a presentation centered on Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and China’s New Normal. He clearly demonstrated Shenzhen’s economic miracle, innovation in hi-tech industry and financial sector, and the macroeconomic background of China’s new normal. In the end, Dr. Zhang and Dr. Guo answered students’ questions and exchanged views with them.

Dr. Geoffrey T.M. Chow from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne Australia visited CDI. Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department, introduced Development course, research focus, consultation projects, and academic exchange. With an in-depth discussion on how to conduct collaboration, they reached a tentative agreement on holding a Shenzhen promotion seminar to enhance inter-city cooperation between Shenzhen and Melbourne.

Dr. Yose Rizal Damuri, Head of Department of Economics, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and his colleague Dr. David Christian paid a visit in CDI. Dr. Liu Guohong, Deputy Director of CDI Centre for Finance and Modern Industry Research and the research fellow Dr. Yu Lingqu met with the guests. Dr. Liu reviewed the development history of Shenzhen as China’s first Special Economic Zone, and outlined the achievements Shenzhen has made and its successful experiences since it was established 35 years ago. He also made a detailed introduction on the institutional arrangement and financial innovation in Shenzhen.

Mr. Lars Børresen, Royal Norwegian Consul in Guangzhou, interviewed with Dr. Wang Guowen, Director of Logistics and Supply Chain Management Department of CDI. Dr. Wang briefed visitors on the significance of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in terms of infrastructure construction, industrial development and institutional innovation, and compared the functional positioning of China’s three newly established FTZs in Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangdong. Dr. Wang elaborated on the priorities of Qianhai & Shekou Area of Shenzhen, Nansha Area of Guangzhou, and Hengqin Area of Zhuhai in Guangdong Pilot FTZ respectively, and introduced some institutional breakthroughs Qianhai has made and its future direction.

Ms. Yazini, a South African scholar, paid a visit in Shenzhen for her report on the experience in developing a successful Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Professor Li Luoli, Vice Chairman of CDI, and Mr. Lu Wenbin, Director of Regional Planning Department of Shenzhen Municipal Development and Reform Commission had an in-depth discussion with Ms. Yazini. Prof. Li illustrated Shenzhen SEZ’s development and the universal significance of Deng Xiaoping Theory. Both Prof. Li and Ms Yazini agreed that governmental guidance and involvement in the primary stage of SEZ is important and necessary. Mr. Lu also analyzed new opportunities and challenges faced by Shenzhen SEZ.

Mr. Dominic Trindade, Australian Consul-General in Guangzhou, and Ms. Julie-Anne Nichols, Australian Deputy Consul-General in Guangzhou, paid a visit to CDI and met with Dr. Qu Jian, Vice President, and Researcher Yu Jun. Dr. Qu briefly introduced the background and status quo of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone(SEZ), and then answered a series of questions concerning the planning of Free Trade Zones(FTZs) in China, especially Qianhai & Shekou Area of Guandong Pilot FTZ. He described SEZ as version 1.0 of opening-up, and FTZ, version 2.0. As is pointed out by Dr. Qu, Qianhai is oriented to open modern services to the outside world, with emphasis on financial innovation and RMB internationalization. Besides, he also holds that governments should play a role in building up FTZs to solve problems which cannot be dealt with by the market.

Commissioned by Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Department of Regional Development Planning of CDI launched the study on development strategy and policies on SEZs in the region of India’s Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) on March 1, 2015. The project’s inception report was submitted on March 16, 2015. From April 23 to 30, Vice President Qu Jian, Mr. Zhou Zhenbang, Senior Consultant of the department and Deputy Secretary-General of China Association of Development Zones, and Researcher Jin Xiaojia had carried out a field study in India and visited the India’s Capital New Delhi, and cities of Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Kakinada, Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh. During the tour, on-site research on SEZs in the region was conducted, and interviews with various government officials, SEZs developers and local entrepreneurs were carried out to locate the key challenges confronted by Indian SEZs in terms of management, development and policy design. In the next stage, the project team will propose a set of practical solutions for revitalizing SEZs in the VCIC region by drawing upon successful SEZ models around the world.

Ms Chay Yuen Ting, Consul of the Republic of Singapore and Ms Yap Si Hong, Vice-Consul of the Republic of Singapore visited CDI and were warmly welcomed by Dr. Zhang Jiansen，Director of Financial Research Centre. Dr. Zhang answered the questions concerning the role of Qianhai &Shekou Free Trade Zone and the construction of legal system in Qianhai raised by Ms Chay. He also analyzed the status of financial cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

On 14th January, 2015, the Regional Commissioner of Kigoma, Tanzania, Mr. Issa S. Machibya, led a delegation of four to visit CDI. Vice President Dr. Qu Jian, Deputy Director of Regional Planning Department Dr. Peng Jian, and junior researcher Jin Xiaojia received the delegation and had a good discussion with the distinguished guests from Africa. The Tanzania delegation was first introduced about CDI’s history and fields of research and consultation in the Exhibition Hall, where Dr. Qu Jian highlighted CDI’s recent projects on African SEZs in Mauritius and Ethiopia. After the tour, CDI’s experts and the Tanzania delegation engaged in a fruitful discussion on Shenzhen SEZ’s success and Kigoma SEZ’s challenge in investment promotion. On behalf of Kigoma Region and his colleagues, Mr. Issa S. Machibya had expressed his sincere gratitude to CDI for the hospitality. He believed CDI’s experience in SEZ strategic planning and consultation will be of good reference value to Kigoma SEZ. After the discussion, CDI and the delegation have reached a preliminary agreement on how to proceed with further cooperation between the two.

A group of senior staff from Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. paid a visit to CDI. Dr. Guo Wanda, the Executive Vice President made an introduction of the development of Shenzhen as China’s first Special Economic Zone. He shared his insights on the success factors of private hi-tech enterprises in Shenzhen and had an open dialogue with the guests.