Understanding China Economic and Social Development Foundation

Introduction:

The Understanding China Economic and Social Development Foundation (hereafter "the Foundation”) was established on November 21, 2018 with the approval of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. As a commonweal and charity organization affiliated to China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), the Foundation aims to fund public interest activities and researches related to the “Understanding China” project and the publication of research findings for the spread of the voice of China and the storytelling about China, to promote better understanding of China in the New Era among people at home and abroad, and to facilitate the innovation and development of China. In addition, the Foundation will actively engage in public interest activities, fund relevant researches on economic and social development, organize public interest activities in education, science, culture and other fields, so as to fulfill its social responsibilities and to promote the progress of related projects.

Honorary Chairman: Zheng Bijian 

 

Born in 1932 in Fushun, Sichuan Province. Joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1952. Graduated from the graduate program at Renmin University in 1954. Since the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th CPC National Congress, he has served as head of the Party Literature Research Center of the CPC Central Committee; commissioner at the Research Center at the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee; assistant to Comrade Hu Yaobang, then General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPC; deputy director-general of the international affairs research center at the State Council; vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as well as director of the Research Institute for Marxism, Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought at the academy; deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; executive vice-president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee; and chairman of China's Reform and Opening up Forum. He was a member of the 14th and 15th Central Committee of the CPC and a member of the Standing Committee of the 10th Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He is currently the Dean of the Academic Committee of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (Chinese Academy of Governance), Dean of the College of Humanities of the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chairman of China Sciences and Humanities Forum, Senior Advisor at the China Institution for International Strategic Studies (CIISS) and Senior Advisor to Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Zheng Bijian is a top theorist and strategist of the CPC. He has served in a string of important positions within the CPC, including the deputy head of the Publicity Department at the CPC Central Committee and the executive vice-president of the Party school of the CPC Central Committee. In 2010, he founded CIIDS, which serves as a think-tank for the Chinese leadership on governance.

Chairman: Lü Benfu 

Served as Associate Dean of the Management Institute, Graduate School of CAS (GSCAS). He is currently Deputy Director of the UCAS Business Innovation Research Center, Vice President of the China Information Economics Society (CIES) and Director of Research Centre for Cyber Economics and Knowledge Management of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Vice Chairman: Feng Wei

 

Served as attaché of Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Vice Secretary General of the Board of Directors of China Foreign Affairs University, and Vice Secretary General of China National Association for International Studies. He is currently deputy director and vice secretary general of CIIDS.

Function 1: Coordinate with the “Understanding China” project, fund the hosting of related public interest activities, researches and the publication of research findings, so as to better spread the voice of China and tell the China story.

“Understanding China” Conference

 

The “Understanding China” Conference is co-hosted by CIIDS, the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, the Beijing Municipal Government, and the 21st Century Council of the Berggruen Institute. The Conference was held in 2013 and 2015, each attracting an audience of over 40 former political leaders from around the world, who shared candid and insightful opinions and suggestions  on a range of topics, including the new global architecture, social media and its governance, sustainable development of Chinese economy, China’s national defense policy, decision-making process, China’s worldview and international responsibilities, as well as building a community of shared future for mankind. President Xi Jinping attended the conferences and talked with the foreign delegates. President Xi said that the conference themed with “understanding China” is helpful for promoting mutual understanding between China and other countries. Premier Li Keqiang and then Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli attended the opening ceremonies of the first and second conferences respectively and delivered keynote speeches. 

 

The third “Understanding China” conference will be held in Beijing from Dec. 16 to 18, 2018. The conference will be co-hosted by CIIDS, the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, the Beijing Municipal Government, and the 21st Century Council of the Berggruen Institute. Premier Li will meet the delegates, and Yang Jiechi, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee will attend the opening ceremony, when he will read President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter and deliver a speech. The conference organizing committee plans to invite more than 40 political leaders, strategists, and entrepreneurs from around the world, leaders from the relevant CPC, government and military departments, as well as experts and scholars. As China marks the 40th anniversary of the reform of opening up and embarks on the path of comprehensively deepening reform, the conference focuses on China’s new growth drivers and new opportunities for global cooperation, in which will ignite in-depth discussions on topics such as the redoubling of reform and opening-up efforts, comprehensively implementing the new concept of development, promoting economic globalization, and building a community of shared future for mankind.

 

“Understanding China” book series

 

Curated by CIIDS and published by China Foreign Language Publishing Administration (China International Publishing Group), the series is themed “Understanding China” and authored by renowned experts and scholars from China and overseas on specific topics.

Focusing on “Understanding China,” the series highlights Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era and the governance practices and measures taken since the 18th National Congress of the Party by the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core. It aims to interpret from multiple dimensions China in the midst of major historic changes and great rejuvenation, to answer the fundamental questions of “Where are we from? Where are we going?” to tell the stories of China’s development and reveal its secrets, as well as to share China’s wisdom and experience.

The first batch of 21 books has been published and showcased at international book fairs in London and New York in April and June respectively, and has received broad attention from domestic and international readers.

Awards:

Listed in the supplementary list of the publication plan of National Key Books, Audio Video and Electronic Publication during the 13th Five Year Plan.

Listed in the “Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee: category of 81 selected topics of key publications of 2018”.

China Foreign Language Publishing Administration (CFLPA) 2018 Recommended Work for International Communication.

“Understanding China” political commentary documentary series

 

Documentary series curated by CIIDS and produced by Beijing Science and Education Film Studio. 

The series intends to focus on China’s new measures of peaceful development as the world enters a new stage of economic globalization and faces new problems. It traces the history of the three waves of economic globalization and the major twists and turns in Chinese history during the three periods of globalization. It features typical events and important time periods in world and Chinese history as well as important figures that are influential to the historical developments so as to present history from different aspects. The documentary aims to tell China story and showcase Chinese thinking, Chinese wisdom and China’s value.

Seminar on “China in the New Era”

The seminar is part of a series of activities to promote the launch of the second volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China in multiple languages. Held in London on April 11, 2018, the seminar on “China in the New Era” was hosted by CIIDS, China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (CFLPA) and the 21st Century Council, with the support from the Chinese Embassy in UK.

 

The seminar attracted more than 70 distinguished scholars and media representatives from China, Britain, the United States and Singapore, among other countries. Some of the guests who attended the opening ceremony included Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and minister of the State Council Information Office; Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to Britain; Zheng Bijian, director of the Academic Committee at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS); Former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, and former Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. Participants held in-depth discussions over a variety of topics, such as the historical positioning and worldwide significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era, as well as China and the world in the new era.

China Story Communication Center

 

China Story Roadshow Center is jointly established by CIIDS, together with mainstream Chinese media, the famous international think-tank 21st Century Council and its affiliated media outlets. Located in Guangdong, the Center is going to travel across China and the Belt and Road countries, telling the story of the Great Bay Area in the new era and spreading the voice of China. 

In the future, the Center will also trace the revolutionary history of Guangdong and tell the stories about the reform and opening up in Guangdong. It will also curate Guangdong brands tinged with stories about culture, tourism, IT and green development, and promote them at home and abroad.

Function 2: fund researches in areas related to economic and social development

1. Fund the implementation of the “Facilitation Program for Innovative Enterprises”

In order to further implement the “Outline of National Innovation-Driven Development Strategy”, to assist the rapid growth of innovative enterprises, and to cultivate model enterprises for the upcoming “science and technology innovation board”, CIIDS, the supervising institute of the Foundation, plans to implement the “Innovative Enterprise Facilitation Program” through the high-end resources, well-known experts and high-quality channels accumulated in the process of serving decision-making departments and local governments. The program aims to help a group of selected innovative companies and “unicorn” companies that meet social development trends and national strategic needs with their accelerated growth.

2. Fund researches in related topics of major national strategies

Provide funds and rewards to organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions in research and practice in areas related to “Belt and Road Initiative”, “Rural Vitalization” and other fields concerning major national strategies.

3. Fund the implementation of “Future Great Minds” initiative 

Fund young scholars and teachers in top universities, research institutes and organizations who are unwavering in ideological beliefs, excellent in their fields, and have shown academic potential or achieved certain results in academia. Aim to produce future talents and key academic backbones for higher education and specialized researches.

4. Fund the “Talent of the 21st Century” initiative

Select college students who are outstanding in character and academic achievements to participate in international exchange activities. Provide funding for them to study, exchange and practice in internationally renowned universities, institutions and top 500 companies in the world, so as to train their global perspective, enhance their academic and practical capabilities, and help them become the elite and backbone talents the country needs.

Contact:

Address: Yard No. 3, Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Zip code: 100007

TEL: 84370200