On Aug 22, the Sino-Japan Economic Cooperation Roundtable Dialogue was held at CDI. Mr. Yosuke Tsuyuguchi, Former senior official of the Bank of Japan, Mr. Ohara Atsuji, Associate Professor of International Finance/Development Economics, University of Nagasaki, Mr. Ueshima Kenji, President of China Japan Equity Exchange Co., Ltd, and Mr. Huang Zhongquan, Chairman of Asian Bridge Capital Ltd paid a visit to CDI and held a discussion with CDI research fellows. Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President, Dr. Liu Guohong, Director of Finance and Modern Service Industry Dept., Mr. Zheng Yujie, Director of Think Tank Research and Information Dept., and 6 other research fellows attended the meeting. The Japanese expert made a thorough analysis on the status quo and prospect of Japanese economic regarding rising exchange rate, low inflation, fiscal and financial policy. The two sides also held a discussion on the possibility of further internationalization of RMB in Japan, and the potentials of Sino-Japan economic cooperation, etc.  
 

A delegation of 35 students from University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) paid a visit to CDI. Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of CDI lectured students on “Chinese Economy and Shenzhen Special Economic Zone: the Transformation of China”. The lecture covers four parts: “Chinese Economy in the Past”, “Chinese Economy in the Future”, “Shenzhen：A Special Economic Zone” and “Shenzhen’s Innovation and Its Role in China’s Transformation”. Dr. Guo had an extensive discussion with students on China’s future economic development path and highlighted Shenzhen’s role in Chinese economic transformation in the period of the 13th Five Year Plan. Swiss students actively exchanged views with Dr. Guo.

On June 13, Dr. Ivan Roberts, Head of Asian Economies Research Unit, and other economists from Reserve Bank of Australia paid a visit to CDI. Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of CDI and Research Fellow Mr. Zheng Yujie and Dr. Zhou Junmin held discussion with RBA delegates on the current situation and future expectation of Shenzhen economy, the supply-side structural reform of Shenzhen, and innovative industries in Shenzhen. To increase the supply of land, education and medical care is the core task of Shenzhen’s supply-side reform, according to CDI research fellows. 
 

On February 29, 2016, Tim Summers, a senior consulting fellow on Asian programme from Chatham House, visited CDI and conducted research on the integration of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta in an interview with Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of CDI. Dr. Guo noted that it is inevitable that Hong Kong and the delta region will more closely integrate with each other, or even grow into a metropolitan area, given their close economic relation and frequent people exchange. With commuting convenience, institutional connection, and compatible urban planning, the area has potential for integrated development .

On February 24, 2016, On behalf of CDI, Dr. Wang Guowen, Director of Department of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, attended the completion ceremony of The Innovation Center of Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), located in Basalt. Dr. Amory B. Lovins, Cofounder and Chief Scientist of RMI, first introduced the deep green building. In the next part, a dialogue centered on new energy was held between Thomas L. Freidman, a writer for the New York Times, and Dr. Lovins. It was emphasized that China’s energy reform during the 13th-Fiver-Year-Plan period is of great importance to the global energy use. RMI, as a thinker and actor in the field of new energy, has proposed commercial solutions to systematically stop using fossil fuels.

On January 26, 2016, Dr. Peter Wolff, Head of World Economy and Development Financing Department from German Development Institute, paid a visit to CDI, meeting with Executive Vice President Dr. Guo Wanda, International Cooperation Director Ms. Feng Yueqiu, Director of Finance and Modern Industry Department Dr. Liu Guohong and Researcher Yu Peng. The discussion was centered on Shenzhen’s economic development, transformation and upgrading course of the industrial parks in Shenzhen and the prospect of Shenzhen’s financial sector.

On January 7th, 2016, urbanization research team headed by Executive Director Zeng Zhen visited Nomura Research Institute (NRI) and meet with Mr. Hayakawa Yasuhiro, Director of Social Institutions Division, and other five experts. In-depth discussion was held on urban planning, land policy, urban regeneration and industrial parks. Mr. Hayakawa Yasuhiro briefed on the history of industrial parks since 1960s, particularly policies concerning industry and land use to deal with environmental harm and industrial hollowing-out. Mr. Li Jinkui, Mr. Liu Xianfa and other researchers had heated discussion with specialists from NRI on spatial distribution, industrial upgrading, policy design, and coordination mechanism in the course of urban renewal.

On December 30, Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of CDI, met Mr. Steve Arrick, Economic Consul of the British Consulate-General Guangzhou. They exchanged views on Shenzhen’s working priorities in the 13th Five-Year Plan and the development and opportunities of the fintech industry in Shenzhen. Dr. Guo noted that innovation is the key word in the 13th Five-Year Plan of Shenzhen and that the working priorities are going to be in Qianhai & Shekou Area of China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, internationalization of renminbi, supply-side reform, green development, etc. In addition, the two sides agreed to cooperate in research and consultation in a bid to promote the academic exchange between think tanks in China and the UK.

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.