Incheon Development Institute (IDI) signed an agreement with CDI on cooperation of academic communication and research. IDI is a think tank of Korea’s third largest city Incheon. IDI President Mr. Eo, Yeon-Duk paied a visit on CDI and had a meeting with CDI Executive President Mr. Tang Huijian and Dr. Guo Wanda.

Ms. Nghi Luu, Unit Manager of International Economy Division, Macroeconomic Group of The Treasury, Australia visited CDI. Vice President Guo Wanda has a discussion on Shenzhen economic structure, employment and environment protection with the guests.

Mr. Brendan Kelly, Ms. Elizabeth Van Heuvelen visited CDI representing U.S. –China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Department of the Treasury. Prof. Feng Subao and Dr. Huzhenyu discussed with the guests on industrial structure and“Double Transfer Policy”(industry, labor) in Guangdong.

Mr. John Langtry, Assistant Secretary of East Asia Branch of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited CDI. Vice President Guo Wanda, Dr. Feng Subao and Dr. Liu Luyu received the guests and introduced the measures China has adopted during the Financial Crisis.

Mr. Smedsvig Håkon, Consul of Royal Norwegian Consulate General, Guangzhou paid a visit to CDI. Prof. Guo Wanda, the Vice President, Dr. Wang Mei, Director of Centre for Public Policy and Government Performance Assessment exchanged opinions on China Social Security System Reforms with the guests.

Vice President Prof. Guo gave an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on the questions of Shenzhen economic development in the past 20 years and its administrative reforms.

German Consul-General Eberhard Schuppius visited CDI investigating the administrative reform in Shenzhen. Vice President Guo Wanda and Prof. Feng Subao introduced the background and evolution of Shenzhen’s Administrative Reform, and exchanged ideas with the guests.

Laura Stone, Director of the Office of  Macro Economy and Financial Policy for the U.S Embassy to China, and Steve Lang, the Economic and Political Section Chief in U.S. Consulate General, Guangzhou visited CDI  investigating Shenzhen’s general economic situation under the global financial crisis, and the implementation of the Comprehensive Reform in Shenzhen. Vice President Guo Wanda answered questions from the guests.

A group of fund managers led by China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC) visited CDI. Dr. Guo Wanda, Vice President of CDI, Prof. Feng Subao, and Dr. Liu Luyu received the guests, and answered their questions on the port trade, employment and government policies during the current financial downturn.

The third Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-operation Forum, jointly organised by the Central Policy Unit (CPU) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Research Association and the China Development Institute of Shenzhen, was held at the China Development Institute in Shenzhen.

The forum was initiated by the research institutions of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, with the aim of strengthening non-official exchanges between the two places in additional to government official interactions.  The first two forums were held in 2006 and 2007 in Shenzhen and Hong Kong respectively, and have made important contributions in promoting co-operation between the two places.  The theme of today’s forum was “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-operation under the Economic Crisis”.  The forum examined the development of the financial tsunami and its impact on Shenzhen and Hong Kong.  Around 100 participants from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, including experts from various fields, academics, business persons and government officials, were invited to join the forum.

The Head of the CPU, Professor Lau Siu-kai, and the Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr Lv Ruifeng, delivered opening addresses at the forum.

Participants of the forum were divided into four groups and had in-depth discussions on how Shenzhen and Hong Kong could further co-operate in areas such as employment, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, education and manpower training, and social welfare, in order to combat the crisis and grasp the opportunities.

Organizers from both Shenzhen and Hong Kong attach great importance to the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-operation Forum, and hope that the forum can continue in the future to further enhance co-operation and exchanges between the two places.