China News Service, Hangzhou, January 29 (Xi Jinyan, Linnuo) On the 29th, the first Asian Development Forum opened in Hangzhou. Well-known experts and scholars from China, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia and other countries and regions focused on issues such as geopolitics, climate change, technological change and digital transformation, and discussed the development path of Asia in the next 50 years.
At present, the world economic recovery is still weak. Asia is seen as a potential engine of global economic growth, and its prosperity will have spillover effects on global economic development. As the largest developing country in the world, China has achieved leap-forward development in industrialization and urbanization and achieved world-renowned achievements.
“We stand at the crossroads of a new era. The development environment has undergone tremendous changes. The rise of digital technology, the urgent challenges of urbanization, and the existential threats brought by climate change are reshaping the development pattern. These changes provide new opportunities. Opportunities have also brought new challenges. What are the new variables in this development equation, and how can past experience provide a basis for future strategies? Cooperation is the key." Gong, Director of the International Development and Governance Research Center of Zhejiang (Zhejiang University) Sen said in his opening speech.
The scene of the first Asian Development Forum. Photo courtesy of Zhejiang (Zhejiang University) International Development and Governance Research Center
How will Asia take the next 50 years? “The key strategic questions we need to answer are: Where will better, more productive jobs come from? Is the service industry that focuses on promoting green transformation and absorbing labor effective? How to fill the gap in knowledge iteration? New knowledge How to predict? This series of issues in the context of the general context urges us to cherish the past and look forward to better facing the future." Huang Xianhai, Vice President of Zhejiang University, hopes that experts and scholars can express their opinions and form a consensus in the exchanges and discussions at this forum. Identifying a future research agenda. We also look forward to transforming knowledge and perspectives into development opportunities for our respective countries and markets, so as to jointly create new economies and share new prosperity.
In his speech, Kabir Jurazoda, Dean of the CAREC Institute, introduced the three key areas of research and activities of the CAREC Institute, namely digitalization and sustainability, infrastructure connectivity, and socioeconomic research. He hopes to achieve cooperation and provide knowledge products, scientific discoveries, and capacity-building initiatives that can be translated into practical policy actions.
Zheng Yongnian, dean of the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) and honorary director of the International Development and Governance Research Center of Zhejiang (Zhejiang University), said that Asian development is a very important topic. It is hoped that the participating experts can take this opportunity to study and discuss the codes of Asian economic development, find relevant theories to analyze the Asian economy, establish economic theories, political theories and social theories based on Asian experience, and help Asia's new development.
Zhuang Juzhong, former deputy chief economist of the Asian Development Bank, reviewed Asia's 50 years of policy, market and technological development, explained the path to Asia's prosperity based on the book "Asia's Journey to Prosperity", and also raised challenges and problems; Zhejiang Liu Peilin, a researcher at the University's Center for Coordinated Regional Development, gave a comprehensive interpretation of important works on Asian development, including mainstream ideas about Asia's development and local ideas about Asia's development, while making comparisons.
Zhejiang is the window for China's reform and opening up and a pioneer in Chinese modernization. "This forum is of special significance to be held in Zhejiang." Sheng Shihao, chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Social Sciences, mentioned that there are four aspects worthy of attention for Zhejiang's sustained and rapid development. They are to actively cultivate market entities and continuously improve the economy. The level of openness continues to promote the coordinated development of urban and rural areas and promote the harmony between man and nature.
The forum will also organize guests to conduct research in Deqing, Tonglu, Hangzhou and other places in Zhejiang to gain an in-depth understanding of Zhejiang’s exploration and practical experience in the three fields of common prosperity, low-carbon development and digital transformation, so as to contribute to the modernization of Asian countries. Provide academic support and policy reference for construction and sustainable development.
"This is a very unique opportunity to deeply study the exploration and practice of China's common prosperity. Moreover, we can also personally observe Zhejiang's initiatives in green development and digital transformation and obtain first-hand information. I believe these experiences will provide us with very important information. Valuable inspiration." said Kabir Jurazoda, President of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Institute.
It is reported that this forum is hosted by the Zhejiang (Zhejiang University) International Development and Governance Research Center, the Qianhai Institute of International Affairs of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and the Zhejiang University Regional Coordinated Development Research Center, and is co-organized by the Asian Development Bank and the Regional Knowledge Sharing Center. It promotes knowledge exchange and cooperation in the field of Asian development, explores the future development direction of Asia, and at the same time works together to build a knowledge and friendship network on a global scale, hoping to provide intellectual support for the development of Asia in the next 50 years. (over)