Mr. Kapil Kapoor, Director of Strategy Office, and Mr. Mateus Magala, Strategy Advisor of the African Development Bank paid their first visit to CDI. African countries are now investigating China’s approaches and experiences in urbanization and industrialization. A key point is how to improve the productivity of talents and labor force. Dr. Guo Wanda, the Executive Vice President showed the history of Shenzhen’s economic innovation and its talent structure, and shared Shenzhen’s experiences and lessons in the process of development.

Mr. Stephen Doust, the newly-appointed Political, Economic and Public Affairs Consul of the Consulate General of Canada in Guangzhou, paid an introductory visit to CDI. Dr. Guo Wanda, the Executive Vice President gave a brief introduction of CDI and its major research focus. The two sides agreed to explore an extensive network between CDI and Canadian think tanks.

Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of CDI, and Ms. Carol Feng, Director of International Cooperation Department, visited the Macau Foundation and met with Dr. Wu Yongliang, President of the Foundation. Dr. Guo paid the visit to learn about the operation and major projects of the Macau Foundation. Both institutions agreed to further their cooperation in the future research on Mainland-Macau cooperation.

Ms. Xie Wanting, Consul of Singapore Consulate-General in Guangzhou visited CDI and had a discussion with Dr. Guo Wanda, Executive Vice President of CDI and Ms. Yu Jun, the research fellow, on the development of three New Areas in South China, including Qianhai of Shenzhen, Hengqin of Zhuhai, and Nansha of Guangzhou. Dr. Guo and Ms. Yu made comparative analysis on the three areas and their different policies to clarify the investment environment in these areas.

Shenzhen Financial Centre Development Summits had been held in Washington and New York Stock Exchange on July 1, co-hosted by China Development Institute (CDI), Economic Strategy Institute (ESI), and the Financial Industry Development and Service Office of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government.

At the summits, experts from CDI and Shenzhen Stock Exchange gave presentations on China financial centre development to more than 60 specialists from the U.S government, senate, think tank and financial institutions. China is moving steadily to liberalize its currency policies and to make the yuan eventually into a reserve currency as an alternative to the dollar. In July 2012, the State Council officially approved the policy of Shenzhen Qianhai development and opening, and implemented the preferential policy of “first implementation and first trial” in six fields: finance, taxation, law, human resources, medical services, and telecom. It means that Qianhai will serve as an “experimental site” in the opening of the Chinese finance industry, and will play a leading role in the internationalization of RMB.

As invited by Taiwan Bureau of Industry, CDI research fellows, along with experts from China Association of Development Zones (CADZ) paid a visit to Yunlin Science Industrial Park and Southern Taiwan Science Park to learn their experiences, and had academic exchange with Manufactures United General Association of Industrial Park and Taiwan Institute of Economic Research.

Mr. Li Hao, Honorary Chairman of CDI and Former Secretary-General of Shenzhen, Mr. Tang Jie, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen met professors and research fellows from Institute for China and Global Development, Hong Kong University in CDI. The Heads of Qianhai Administration Bureau, Shenzhen DRC and Building Research Institute made presentations on the development of Qianhai, Shenzhen International Low-carbon City and green building concept respectively. 

Mr. Joaquin Lim, Executive Director at California Institute of Public Administration (CIPA) and Former Mayor of the Walnut City paid a visit to CDI. The CIPA delegation was welcomed by Vice President Dr. Wu Liangcheng, along with Director of CDI Training Centre, Mr. Chen Hanzhou. CIPA and CDI Training Centre signed a Cooperation Memorandum on Family Business Training Courses. Both sides reached a consensus on the future cooperation on government official training and business administration training.

Invited by the government of Ethiopia, CDI research fellows, along with experts from China Association of Development Zones (CADZ) and Suzhou Industrial Park paid a visit to Ethiopia and provided consulting service on establishing Special Economic Zones in the country. The delegation was arranged to meet with 18 government departments and 16 enterprises respectively, and had site visits to some candidate cities. The expert team is expected to conduct further consultancy concerning the SEZ Master Planning, investment promotion, administration, supporting service and training, etc.

CDI Delegation, led by Prof. Feng Subao, Executive Director of Academic Committee, visited Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) in the UK. The Research Director of International Economics, Dr. Paola Subacchi and her team met Prof Feng and other 6 research fellows. After two presentations made by the British counterparts on transatlantic relationship and Italy’s economic recovery, Prof. Feng introduced the financial innovation of Qianhai, Shenzhen, and the progress of RMB internationalization.