Chief Economist of U.S. Department of State Meets with Research Fellows of CCIEE

Chief Economist of U.S. Department of State Meets with Research Fellows of CCIEE

On June 7, 2012,CCIEE hosted its second quarterly meeting and invited Mrs. Heidi Crebor-Rediker, chief economist at the U.S. Department of State to exchange views with its fellow researchers. Mr. Zhang Yongjun, Deputy Director General of Research Department chaired the meeting. Mr. Xu Chaoyou, Director General of Department of External Affairs, Mr. Xu Hongcai , Deputy Director General of Information Department and some of research fellows at CCIEE, as well as Mr. Ervin Massinga and Mr. Dan Wald, economic officers of the United States Embassy in China, were present.

Mrs. Crebor-Rediker briefly introduced the background against which the chief economist was appointed and the main duties of this position. The outbreak of the sub-prime debt crisis in the U.S. in 2008 dealt a heavy blow to the U.S. economy. Under such circumstance, the State Department appointed its first chief economist to help it get a full grasp of the international economic and financial situation and to contribute ideas for the government to make new policies. Mrs. Crebor-Rediker had a broad discussion with research fellows of CCIEE on issues such as the European debt crisis and its trend, the exchange rate of RMB, energy cooperation between China and the U.S., high-tech export, as well as the fiscal and tax reform of the States. She also took interest in the slowdown of China’s economy and its future development.

Mr. Zhang Yongjun welcomed Mrs. Crebor-Rediker to visit CCIEE, and gave his thoughts on China’s current economic situation in China.

Both sides spoke highly of the meeting and expressed their willingness to keep contact and strengthen communication in the future.