On November 6th, 2022, amid in-depth study and implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Zhejiang (Zhejiang University) Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance (CiSDG) was inaugurated in Zhejiang University, opening a new chapter for the joint construction of new type of think tank between the province and university.
At the inaugurating ceremony, Chen Yijun, the Standing member and Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee, delivered a speech. Ren Shaobo, Secretary of the Party Committee of the University, delivered a speech and presented Professor Zheng Yongnian a letter of appointment for the Qiushi Chair Professor of Zhejiang University. Zhu Weijiang, Deputy Secretary-General of Provincial Party Committee and Director of Policy Research Office of Provincial Party Committee, Sheng Shihao, Vice Minister of Provincial Party Committee Publicity Department and Chairman of Provincial Federation of Social Science, Guo Huawei, Secretary of Party Group and Vice Chairman of Provincial Federation of Social Science attended the event. Vice President of Zhejiang University, He Lianzhen presided over the event. The participating leaders pressed the start buttons to jointly launch the center.
Chen Yijun, on behalf of the Provincial Party Committee, expressed warm congratulations on the establishment of the center. Chen Yijun pointed out that the establishment of the Centre is a concrete action of Zhejiang to study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and to pioneer shared prosperity in China and provincial modernization in Zhejiang. Chen stressed that, the Centre must learn and understand the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on Chinese-style modernization, lead academic thoughts with major theoretical research results, guide practical exploration, and shoulder the mission and responsibility of serving the times and the overall interests; Chen also stressed that it is necessary to take root in the pioneering construction of shared prosperity demonstration area in Zhejiang on the basis of high-quality development, highlight the importance of theoretical guidance, systematic planning and reform and innovation breakthrough. Chen encouraged the Centre to open up theoretical innovation that originates from and guides local practices. Basing on Zhejiang and serving China, the Centre focuses on comparisons with other Asian countries in a broader context of global development, as summarized by Chen.
Chen Yijun said that the provincial Party Committee would continue to care about and support the development of the Centre. All parties should work together to innovate and improve the working mechanism, expand and strengthen the research team, gather the wisdom, deepen the research, accelerate the branding of the Centre, and find a path to the development of think tanks with Chinese characteristics.
Ren Shaobo said that the establishment of the Centre to carry out research on international development and governance is not only an important initiative to implement the spirit of the Party's 20th National Congress, but also a practical action to serve the national strategy and the development of Zhejiang, which is of great significance to promote global development and for China to participate in global governance. He hoped that the Centre would be based on national development and strive to become a high-end think tank serving Chinese modernization; aim at the academic frontier, and strive to become the academic highland serving construction of the independent knowledge system; establish a global vision and strive to become an important window serving civilization exchanges and mutual learning; adhere to the high-standard positioning, and strive to make great contributions to the construction of think tanks.
He further pointed out that Zhejiang University would fully support the development of the Center and expect new contributions to build up a new type of think tank with Chinese characteristics and an international academic base with significant influence in the future.
Zheng Yongnian, honorary director and Director of Scientific Committee of the Centre, said in his speech: It is my duty to come back to my hometown to carry out research. I am looking forward to working with everyone to study the path of China's development from the perspective of Zhejiang, tell Zhejiang stories and experience well, so that the international community can better understand China and Zhejiang.
Zhang Junkuo, former member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Development Research Centre of the State Council; Zhou Qiangwu, Vice President of the New Development Bank; Zhang Yongsheng, Director of the Institute of Ecological Civilization of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Pierre Krähenbühl, Director of the East Asia Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross; Xue Lan, Senior Professor of liberal arts at Tsinghua University, Dean of Schwarzman College and member of the Leadership Group of the UN Internet Governance Forum; Wang Huiyao, chairman of the China and Globalization Think Tank, respectively expressed their best wishes to the establishment of the center, looking forward to the early establishment of the center as a world-recognized think tank.
Zhejiang (Zhejiang University) Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance (CiSDG) is jointly cultivated by the provincial party committee and the provincial government and Zhejiang University. It aims to build a world-renowned first-class think tank. it is designed to conduct studies on major modern issues such as shared prosperity and to deepen bilateral communications between Zhejiang Province and the international community. Its major task is to serve foreign affairs of the Party and the country, and it is committed to becoming a think tank and an academic highland with international influence.
Zheng Yongnian is the honorary director of the Center and Director of the Centre’s Scientific Committee, Gong Sen is the Director of the Centre, and Yu Xunda serves as the executive Director of the Centre.
After the inaugurating ceremony, the Center held a seminar on its institutional development.
Huang Lianghao, deputy Director of the Political Research Office of the Provincial Party Committee, Liang Ziqian, deputy director of Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation College, Yao Xianguo, Li Shi, senior professors of liberal arts of the university, as well as the leaders of the General Office of the Provincial Party Committee, the Publicity Department, the Policy Research Office and the representatives of teachers and students of relevant departments of Zhejiang University attended the inaugurating ceremony.