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.

Ms. Carol Feng, director of International Cooperation Department and Mr. Yu Peng, research fellow of Financial Research Centre visited Z/Yen Group which is based in London, UK and was welcomed by associate director Dr. Mark Yeandle on December 18th, 2014. 

During the visit, CDI and Z/Yen Group realized the significance of strengthening the connection and communication with each other and agreed to carry out extensive cooperation in the future.

On Dec 4-6, Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President, and Ms. Carol Feng, Director of International Cooperation Department, attended the 6th World Chinese Economic Forum. Dr. Guo addressed in the first Session: “China’s Role in the World and Regional Economy”, and had a lively interaction with other speakers from Britain, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Kuwait. The Forum is themed with “China, ASEAN and the World Economy: China’s New Global Role, Achieving Balanced Growth, Sharing Mutual Prosperity”. It is an annual event organized by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute promoting linkages between the East and West and China and Southeast Asia. CDI is one of the supporting organizations of the Forum. 

Mr. Stephen Olson, Managing Director of Asia, ESI visited CDI and was welcomed by Vice President Qu Jian, along with Ms Feng Yueqiu, Director of International Cooperation Department. Dr. Qu answered questions towards foreign direct investment (FDI) raised by Mr. Olson one by one. Dr. Qu also analyzed the reasons why FDI made such a great success in China and the challenges of FDI in different phases from various aspects including the history of China’s FDI policies and its evolvement especially after China entered WTO, the preferential policies for foreign investment enterprises, the role of SEZ, etc.