Highlights
Who Would Let Obama Stand Alone?
By Prof. Sheng Hong
Though winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Barack Obama did not win loud applaud in the western world, not even in the U.S. itself. Major media of the U.S. mostly considered it still too early to award Obama this prize as he actually had no action but wishes and promises. The British magazine The Economist, however, held a neutral or even quite positive attitude. Some leaders of western countries also gave courteous congratulations.
Some non-western countries applauded, yet not loudly. Nobody in China seems enthusiastic about this news, from the government to common people. Mainstream of Chinese media either considered Obama¡¯s new world order more of an idealization and too far away from reality to be seriously treated, or assumed this event as another intrigue of the U.S. to disarm other countries by pretending to advocate nuclear-free world and the mitigating international tensions, thus maintaining its hegemony position.
Despite all of these, Nobel Peace Prize of this year still sent out a signal and caused us to rethink what on earth these commentators from the North Europe had seen from President Obama¡¯s new international strategy? Are there connotations current mainstream viewpoints failed to see?
For more details:http://www.unirule.org.cn/english2/Third.asp?id=445
Current Events
The Seminar of Status quo and Reform of Collective Land Property
¡°The Seminar of Status quo and Reform of Collective Land Property ¡±, organized by the Unirule Institute of Economics and the Sino Farmer Foundation Limited, was held in Beijing in November 19th, 2009. Prof.Sheng Hong, the Director of Unirule Institute of Economics, Prof. Wang Hui, School of Humanities and Social Sciences from Tsinghua University, Prof. Wang Weiguo, China University of Political Science and Law, and a number of scholars attended the seminar.
Experts discussed some significant public issues, such as the allocation system of collective land rights, usage control, allocation of compensation, and delivered legislative suggestions on the existing collective land system.
Forum on China¡¯s Private Sector amid the Financial Crisis
A forum on ¡°China¡¯s Private Sector amid the Financial Crisis¡± was successfully held on November 5th, 2009. The topic of the seminar was the current situation of "Guo Jin Min Tui" phenomenon (The Government Progressing at the Expense of the People). Among the guests attending the forum are renowned economists and experts in other fields from Tsinghua University, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Renmin University of China, National Economic Research Institute China Reform Foundation, and China University of Political Science and Law.
An enlightening and heated discussion on the core cause and influence of ¡°Guo Jin Min Tui¡± phenomenon was held. Certain practical solutions to the phenomenon were also provided. Economists also expressed their worries about this phenomenon.
2009 Grassroots Rural Cadre Training Course
The 2009 Grassroots Rural Cadre Training Course was held in Pinqiao District, Xinyang City, Henan Province from October 17 to October 18. Over 500 people attended this training course. Among them were ministry and bureau chiefs and directors, township and town chiefs, party committee secretaries and deputy secretaries, as well as cadres from new rural construction pilot areas.
The aim of this training is to encourage local peasants to explore local resources and develop a diversified economy and to do some work in helping local peasants to shake off poverty and set out on the road to prosperity.
In general, the training course achieved its planned objectives. Rural cadres attending this course were satisfied with the content of the two days¡¯ training, and they were especially satisfied with the two lectures on rural cooperatives. In their opinion, the training course helped them finally become clear on the many problems affecting the peasantry.
Binhai Forum Series
Two Binhai Forums were held on July 31st, 2009 and September 17th, 2009 in Tianjin Binhai Development Zone. Over 300 attendees from different working units and corporations in Binhai Development Zone attended the two forums. Tianjin Binhai Development Zone Government provided substantial support during the two forums.
Keynote speaker Prof. Wang Chaozhu gave his lecture on ¡°Begin a New Long March and Fight for Longer Democracy¡± on July 31st, 2009. While Keynote speaker Zhang Shuguang of Unirule gave his lecture on ¡°Economic Trend in the latter half of the Year 2009 and the Government¡¯s Macroeconomic Policies¡± on Sep. 17th, 2009.
Prof. Zhang Shuguang Attended the Tenth International Conference of EFN Asia
Prof. Zhang Shuguang, Chairman of the Academic Department of Unirule Institute of Economics, attended the 10th International Conference of EFN Asia, which was held at the Sofitel Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia, from 9 to 10 October, 2009.
With the current global economic crisis as a backdrop, the main theme of this year's conference was 'Overcoming the Global Financial and Economic Crisis: The Rule of Law as the Key to Economic Crisis?' Keynote speakers include Keat Chhon, deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Professor Lawrence H. White from George Mason University. The conference was well attended by over 130 participants from 18 countries worldwide.
This conference is considered a great platform for the exchange of useful information, practical techniques and networking tailored to the needs of think tanks, industry, academics and policymakers. Current Researches/Consultings
The Research of Farm Land Transfer and Modern Agriculture Development
The Research of Farm Land Transfer and Modern Agriculture Development, is the third investigation into land reform led by Prof. Zhang Shuguang. This time, the research team introduced the process and characteristics of land transfer and scale management, and did detailed case studies in five locations, including Yujiawu and Yongledian, Tongzhou, Beijing; Land Cooperation Committee in Zhenghong Village, Ningyang, Shangdong;High-Tech Modern Agricultural Zone in Chongzhou, Chengdu, etc.
Development Strategies of Qingdao Investment and Development Co. Ltd of National High-tech Industrial Development Zone
Qingdao Investment and Development Co. Ltd of National High-tech Industrial Development Zone plays important role in promoting the construction of infrastructure, public unities and major projects in Qingdao national high-tech industrial development zone, however, this company is also facing future development problems, commissioned by Qingdao Investment and Development Co. Ltd, Unirule will provide feasible solutions like strategy position, business model selection, institutional building, and governance structure.
Institutional Strengthening for Public Utilities Investment, Operation, and Regulation in Qingdao National High-tech Industrial Development Zone
Qingdao national high-tech industrial development zone, is a newly constructed zone with 63 square kilometers and a target population is 350,000. The planned period is 5 to 12 years. The aim of this project is to provide an innovative and practical model of investment, operation, and regulation of public utilities in the area. This project was commissioned by the Administration Committee of Qingdao National High-tech Industrial Development Zone. Improving Transparency and Capacity in the Management of China¡¯s Local Government Budgets
Funded by the UK Strategic Programme Fund, the Unirule Institute of Economics and the Great Britain China Center and Research Institute for Fiscal Science, are conducting a project entitled ¡°Improving Transparency and Capacity in the Management of China¡¯s Local Government Budgets.¡± This project aims to explore and accumulate experience to improve the budget transparency and budget management capacity of local governments in China and to provide suggestions on improving local budget management reform.
The first phase of this project, research, has already been completed. During the second phase, the research team will provide support for financial reform in Jiaozuo and Nanhai. The project began in 2008 and is projected to be completed by early 2010.
Urban Wastewater and Solid Waste Management for Small Cities and Towns
This Asian Development Bank Technical Assistance (TA) Project is led by Sogreah, Unirule and ICEA. The intended impact of the TA is to improve urban wastewater management and solid waste management by developing national policy frameworks for wastewater and solid waste tariffs, including tariff calculation methodologies, focusing on small cities and towns. The goal of the TA is to achieve an increased rate of wastewater treatment and of sanitary disposal of solid waste for small cities and towns. This project will last 18 months.
Upcoming Events
Unirule By-weekly Symposium
Unirule¡¯s Biweekly Symposiums are known in China and throughout the world for their long history of open and in-depth discussions and exchanges of ideas in economics and other social sciences. Over 380 sessions have been held and over 15,000 scholars, policy makers, and students, as well as countless readers on the web, have directly and indirectly, participated in the Biweekly Symposium for close to 20 years.
Biweekly Symposiums begin at 2 pm every other Friday and are free and open to the public.
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