Wisdom for Country, Policies for People

-   A Moving Story of Chinese Think Tank by CCIEE

Authored by Wang Simin and Qu Yilin from Guang Ming Daily (June 22, 2015, Page 01)

The countdown has begun for the opening of the 4^th Global Think Tank Summit on June 26^th. The biennial gathering has attracted nearly 100 think tank experts and leaders of various sectors from dozens of countries to Beijing to share their insights in development.

“Only China can organize a think tank summit of such a scale and level,” said Dr. Henry Alfred Kissinger, former US Secretary of State and an old friend of Chinese people, at the first Summit in 2009.

Six years have elapsed in the blink of an eye. For six years CCIEE, the organizer of the Summit, has fumbled along the intellectual path and left behind a treasure trove - its researches and suggestions on China’s socioeconomic development, international economic relationship and hot-button issues have translated into key national strategies; brand events like the Summit and US-China Track-Two dialogue have given China a greater say in international affairs; and routine sessions like China Economics Annual Conference and Monthly Economic Talk have promptly responded to social concerns….

While China is entering into the “think tank era”, CCIEE is writing a moving story as a new-style think tank.As an old saying goes, we can go further if we keep reflecting.

Conveying the “voice of China” on a global stage

March 2009 was suffused with a lingering chill. The entire world was feeling the pangs of financial crisis, and Chinese macro decision-makers were facing grave challenges. Committed to the responsibility and expectation of “a private think tank which integrates intellectual resources in support of China’s decision-making”, CCIEE was inaugurated on the 20^th day of the month.

The first thing CCIEE did was to prepare the inaugural Global Think Tank Summit.

“Since the financial crisis is a global issue, the best solution is to develop initiatives with think tanks all over the world,” said Mr. Wei Jianguo, Vice Chair of CCIEE and former Vice Minister of Ministry of Commerce.

After three months of hectic preparation, the first Summit was staged in Beijing on July 2, under the theme of Global Financial Crisis and World Economic Outlook.

The session was graced by the presence of over 800 domestic and international figures, including statesmen (Dr. Kissinger and Romano Prodi, former Italian Prime Minister), Nobel Prize laureates (Robert Mundell and Muhammad Yunus), delegates of 60-odd foreign think tanks (Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Chatham House), heads of international organizations (IMF, World Bank, and World Intellectual Property Organization), famed scholars, and CEO of multinationals. In three days, the experts “diagnosed” the cause of financial crisis, thrashed out solutions concerned, and published the Beijing Initiative of Global Think Tank Summit and the Beijing Initiative against Trade Protectionism.

A newly-established Chinese think tank has launched a much-cited Summit - praiseworthy in every way from contents to achievements - in which none of its 6,000-odd peers across the globe has ever succeeded. As Romano Prodi put it, “The innovation is steeped in wisdom and imagination.” A three-time Summit participant, Dr. Kissinger has frequently lauded CCIEE for “achieving what others cannot even imagine”.

Today, the Summit has developed into a noted brand in the international circle of think tanks. After two subsequent sessions in 2011 and 2013, under the themes of Global Economic Governance: Common Responsibility, and New Patterns, New Cooperation, New Development respectively, the upcoming 4^th Summit, focused on “Global Sustainable Development: New Path after 2015”, will convey to the world the Chinese voice of “convergence of interests, win-win cooperation and shared development in the same boat”.

The “US-China CEO and Former Senior Officials’ Dialogue” is just another international exchange platform established by CCIEE.

US-China relationship is an issue of great magnitude. The continual economic and trade disputes between the countries necessitate a constructive trade and economy cooperation system in the interests of both sides. In such context, the bi-annual Dialogue, jointly launched by CCIEE and US Chamber of Commerce, has been held alternately in Beijing and Washington for six times since 2011 per year. Its non-governmental nature has earned it the name of “US-China Track-Two Dialogue”.

“Through open, candid dialogues, topics that cannot be covered by governmental talks are fully discussed here,” said Chen Wenling, Chief Economist of CCIEE, who has been engaged in all the six dialogues and impressed by the heated debates. How to establish a new model of US-China relationship based on “mutual trust, inclusiveness, justice and cooperation”? How to mitigate trade imbalance? Questions as such are posed and discussed point-blank, and some conclusions have directly or indirectly influenced US policies towards China.

During the fifth dialogue, CCIEE suggested that the US-China Investment and Trade Treaty should be developed based on the US-China Investment Treaty, and held a tête-à-tête on such topic with the prestigious Peterson Institute for International Economics. According to a report of the Institute dated September 2014, if the US and China ink the Investment and Trade Treaty, trade volume will grow by USD 500 billion each year. CCIEE is trying to turn the suggestion into reality.

Other international platforms have been gradually set up. The International Cooperative Conference on Green Economy and Climate Change facilitates track-two dialogue on multilateral issues concerned. Commissioned by the governments of France (Chair of G20 in 2011) and China, CCIEE hosted a seminar in Nanjing to discuss the reform of international monetary system. The High-Level Policy Forum on Global Governance, co-sponsored by CCIEE and UNDP, aims to give a greater say to emerging economies. And the China-Japan-Korea FTZ Non-governmental High-Profile Seminar, co-sponsored with the Japanese Organization for Industry-academia-government Exchange and the Korea International Trade Association, calls for the promotion of East Asian economic integration….

While setting stages for global think tanks, CCIEE has itself taken center stage. Renowned think tanks including Brookings Institution, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Nomura Securities and Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee have stayed in close touch with CCIEE, helping to convey the voice of China to the world.

Advancing the “Chinese plans” for national development

On June 29, 2015, the Articles of Agreement of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which has been prepared for nearly 8 months, will be opened for signature. The rules, regulations and operating norms of AIIB are discussed by the 57 founding member countries. If all goes well, AIIB will have started operation by the end of the year.

CCIEE has nearly completed its latest research on the operating mechanism of AIIB. However, less noticed is the fact that AIIB owes its existence to the wisdom and endeavor of CCIEE.

In early 2013, after in-depth research, CCIEE strategically suggested “setting up a financing institution for infrastructure construction in Asia” based on the huge financing demands of Asian infrastructure. Half a year later, General Secretary Xi Jinping announced to the world the AIIB initiative.

The initiative proves successful soon, as the newly established international financial institution quickly shows its magnetic effect on attracting cooperation and gathering strength.

For any think tank committed to offering intellectual products, national development needs are the yardstick for research topic selection. On the wall of CCIEE’s meeting room hangs an inscription of CCIEE Chair Zeng Peiyan’s expectation and entrustment, which reads “innovation, pragmatism, wisdom and inclusiveness”. Such culture spawns a great many high-quality findings which have proved their worth in national economic development.

CCIEE’s findings have provided practically reference for every Party convention: the Research on Institutional Reform for Transforming the Economic Development Mode is referenced in the drafting of the report to the 18^th CPC National Congress; the 50 Suggestions on the Comprehensively Deepening Reform and the proposal for building the national security system are referenced in the drafting of the Decision of the CCCPC on Some Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening the Reform (made at the 3^rd Plenum of the 18^th CPC Central Committee); the Suggestions on Comprehensively Implementing Law-Based Governance is consulted in the drafting of document for the 4^th Plenum of the 18^th CPC Central Committee.

CCIEE’s findings have also contributed to various aspects of socioeconomic development, i.e. economy, diplomacy, law, energy, finance, innovation etc. Over the past six years, CCIEE has supported research on over 150 major programs on the strength of its own fund for exchange, and submitted 1,600-odd findings to decision makers through internal publications like Key Information and Research Report.

To meet the needs for economic transformation and development, CCIEE compiles and releases the Development Model Transformation Index each year and has launched the “Research on China Sustainability Performance Indicator System” with the Earth Institute of Columbia University, thus playing its part in improving domestic policies for sustainable development.

CCIEE is concerned no less about regional development than about national strategies. Over the past six years, it has wrapped up a number of major consulting and research projects of high quality in cooperation with governments of 10-odd provinces and enterprises of various types. To be specific, the Research on the Development Plan for Zhoushan Archipelago New Area in Zhejiang, and the Research on the Strategic Plan for Developing Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Zone Development in Hunan have been formally adopted by the State Council, while the development strategies for Greater Beidaihe District in Qinhuangdao and National Seed “Silicon Valley” are being carried out.

“Foresighted, CCIEE always plans in advance and dares to make big and nice decisions as early as possible,” concluded Zhang Xiaoqiang, Executive Vice Chair of CCIEE, Director of Executive Board and former Vice Chair of National Development and Reform Commission.

Interpreting the “Chinese roadmap” to mobilize popular wisdom

On June 15, 2015, Zheng Xinli, Vice Chair of CCIEE and former Deputy Director of Policy Research Office of CPC Central Committee, dwelled at the Livestream Studio of Gmw.cn on “How to identify new highlights and new opportunities in the ‘new normal’”, the first episode of the large-scale interview program - “New Normal · Guang Ming’s Opinions”. From then on, CCIEE’s experts will visit Gmw.cn in turn and present to the viewers a clear picture of the economic “new normal”.

Mobilizing popular wisdom and enhancing mutual understanding, such are the historical missions of new-style think tanks with Chinese characteristics and the constant pursuit of CCIEE.

On April 10, 2015, less than two weeks after the release of Vision and Proposed Actions Outlined on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21^st-Century Maritime Silk Road, CCIEE took the lead in holding the Seminar on the Vision and Proposed Actions Outlined on Jointly Building the Belt and the Road. Zhang Xiaoqiang interpreted the “Road and Belt” vision and actions on behalf of CCIEE, and compared notes with guests from various sectors at home and abroad. The person-in-charge of the Office of Leading Group for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative under the State Council made it clear solemnly that the initiative involves the whole country rather than the purported 18 key provinces along the routes. Later at the seminar, other speakers from CCIEE gave a distinct account of the Belt and Road concept. The audience was amazed by the wisdom and strength of the national think tank.

Aside from irregular events as such, CCIEE runs two influential routine sessions, namely the China Economics Annual Conference and the Monthly Economic Talk.

“Global economic recovery and China’s outlook”, “summary of the gist of Central Economic Working Conference”, “Chinese economic development from 2011-2015”, “facing down challenges, seeking innovation and development, and making progress while ensuring stability”, “new stage of economic development - new opportunities, new challenges, new development”, “summary of the gist of the 3^rd Plenum of the 18^th CPC Central Committee”, “sustainable development of Chinese economy in the ‘new normal’”….Put together, the themes of China Economics Annual Conferences paint a vast and distinct “panorama of Chinese economy”.

Featuring keynote speeches relevant to hot-button issues and in-depth discussion among authoritative experts in relevant fields and other participants, the 70-odd Monthly Economic Talks have successively covered major economic, diplomatic and cultural topics as well as public concerns. Like a wise man by our side, the talks can promptly answer our questions and guide our life.

To better promote and interpret national policies, CCIEE prepares the Report on National Situation and the Report on Global Situation each year; it has launched a journal entitled Globalization, and compiled and published the Collections of Think Tank for social readers. In the course of development, CCIEE has both kept abreast of macro trends and stayed in close touch with the public.

New take-off: Institutional and ideological development

Each move of CCIEE draws its strength from the strict and standard institutional framework, the efficient and cohesive talent team, and the deep-seated patriotism of each member.

Thanks to outstanding leadership, CCIEE’s talent team has grown rapidly from 18 to 70-odd members, thus bringing into shape a contingent of high-profile researchers.

The eye-popping lineup of famed experts and senior scholars is no obstacle for, if not a booster of, CCIEE’s pragmatic and rigorous work style. Here, everyone complies with the call of the country in a realistic and pragmatic way.

Successions of major achievements bear witness to the pioneering efforts of the leading talents.

For the sake of research quality, CCIEE has set up the Academic Committee and Consulting Committee. Wei Liqun, Executive Vice Chair of CCIEE and former Deputy Director of Chinese Academy of Governance, serves as Director of Academic Committee, who prioritizes the research topics in support of national strategies. Wang Chunzheng, former Executive Vice Chair and former Director of Office of the Central Financial and  Economic Work Leading Group, serves as Director of Consulting Committee, who has organized many major consulting projects and spent years translating the research on “Xinjiang as Core Area of Silk Road Economic Belt” into a key national strategy.

Driven by the leaders, young talents zero in on their respective studies.

Every time she writes a report, Associate Researcher Jing Chunmei will ask herself over and over again: Is the report fair and objective? What effect will it have on national interests and people’s livelihood? Having grown from a fresh PHD graduate bent on issuing as many papers as possible to a rigorous researcher, she has apparently assimilated from her leaders the strong sense of responsibility.

On the front cover of his book, Associate Research Wang Tianlong added a subtitle - Learning and Exploration at CCIEE - as an expression of gratitude and respect for the think tank. Recalling the frustratingly repeated revision of his first report of countermeasures and suggestions five years ago, he claims “the insights of leaders have saved me a lot of detours”.

Leaving his posts in the government and the university, Xu Zhanchen came to CCIEE in the teeth of friendly reminders of his lackluster paycheck. “The ultimate goal of our life is definitely not making money.” He is engrossed in his current job to realize the value of rich life.

“We are of the same mind - to establish CCIEE as a high-profile and -quality and new-style think tank with international influence. Therefore, we will further reform and innovation by probing into the development and operation mode of ‘small institution + large platform’, enhance our brand awareness, proactive foresight, innovative spirit and global mindset, and build our research and exchange capacity in an all-round manner,” said the poker-faced Zhang Dawei, Vice Chair and Secretary General of CCIEE.

Looking into the future, CCIEE is poised to build on past achievements and keep exploring along the path of new-style think tank of Chinese characteristics with a resolute mind.