On November 23^rd the Fudan Development Institute (FDDI) held its annual Fudan Development Forum, a forum which each year gathers top scholars to discuss current issues of China’s development from an academic perspective. Under this year’s title “Reform and Opening Up: China’s Opportunities in a Transforming World”, four distinguished speakers analyzed a range of issues related to China’s economic and social development: the Xi-government’s reform agenda; the role of government and market; welfare reform; and the environmental considerations related to China’s development etc. With the recent publication of the CPC Central Committee Third Plenum Decisions (“Decisions”), the four lectures and the following Q&A could not have been more pertinent. Once again, the Fudan Development Institute provided a stage for a vibrant and frank discussion of China’s economic and social development.

This year’s Forum was chaired by vice Dean of Fudan Development Institute, Professor Peng Xizhe, who after welcoming and introducing the guests, passed on the word to the first speaker, former vice-principal of the Central Communist Party School, Professor Li Junru. In light of the recently finished Third Plenum meetings, Professor Li gave his interpretation of President Xi’s concept of reform. He argued that grasping the underlying ideas behind the concept of “fully deepening reform” is key to understanding the orientation of the government and the country. He moreover underlined the importance of proceeding with comprehensive and systematic reform through innovation, while combining top-level planning with the principle of “crossing the river by groping the stones”, so as to realize the goal of a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

         Next, director of the National Economic Research Institute, China Reform Foundation (NERI-China), Professor Fan Gang discussed, among other things, the importance of reducing the role of government in the market, referring to the “Decisions” which state that the market should play a decisive role in distributing resources. Professor Fan was cautiously optimistic that measures to this end as well as towards strengthening the institutional and legal framework of the economy would help sustain growth by ensuring an active and innovative market. This, he pointed out, would also be the most effective way of combating corruption.

Professor Zheng Gongcheng from Renmin University of China discussed the road ahead for China’s social security system. Professor Zheng argued that improving social security is an important factor in releasing the dividend of structural reform by stimulating domestic consumption. He moreover pleaded for China to find a model which not merely imitates the systems of other countries, but rather is based on China’s own social conditions, so that the outcome will be truly functional and sustainable.

Finally, specially-appointed Professor of Fudan University, Chen Jiakuan discussed China’s development from an ecological perspective. He argued that China must discover the basis for ecologically sustainable development within its cultural tradition, Marxist theory, as well as in the recently published “Decisions”. Pointing to the irreplaceable role of the environment for the development of human civilizations, he argued that there is in fact only one feasible option for China, namely that of following an ecologically sustainable path of development.

After the four lectures, the members of the panel answered questions from the audience about institutional reform, foreign capital, and reform of the medical insurance system among other things. The FDDI would like to extend a warm thanks to the speakers who took time to come and share their views, as well as to all the members of the audience who came and supported the event.

Fudan Development Forum is an annual academic forum organized by the Fudan Development Institute (FDDI). The Institute was founded on 12 February, 1993 and is dedicated to serving as a resource to the government by utilizing Fudan University's top research scholars, who come from multidisciplinary backgrounds. The FDDI aims to become a world-class think tank by contributing ideas and suggestions for the continued development of China, especially the city of Shanghai as well; in addition, the FDDI aims to enhance the academic influence of Fudan University during the nation’s development through disciplinary integration and increased fellowship and communications.