On October 20, 2014, the First International Financial Forum of Peking University and the Inaugural Ceremony of National Center for Financial Research (NCFR), Peking University were grandly held in the new building of Guanghua School of Management. The theme of this forum was “China Finance in Reform” and the attending guests included Wang Enge, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Peking University, Prof. Li Yining, Honorary Dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Prof. Robert Merton from MIT, Prof. Cai Hongbin, Dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Prof. William Kirby, former Dean of Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Yang Xian, Dean of National University of Singapore School of Business, Mr. Wang Wei, President of Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, and so on. Also present at this forum were more than 300 experts and scholars from colleges and universities, regulatory departments and financial institutions both at home and abroad, and many fellow students also came to appreciate the charisma of masters. President of Peking University, CAS Academician Wang Enge delivered the opening speech for the forum, bidding welcome to the academic peers and guests at home and from abroad. President Wang spoke highly of the significance of the establishment of National Center for Financial Research, Peking University and expressed gratitude to Zhongzhi Enterprise Group for its vigorous support. He hoped this forum would build an open platform for the regular communications and dialogues among financial professionals at home and abroad, strengthen the discipline construction of financial specialty of Peking University, offer a broader platform for financial researches and continuously promote the internationalization of financial researches in Peking University in order to realize the internationalization of talent cultivation of the financial discipline.
Later, Mr. Wang Wei, President of Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, also delivered a speech for the forum. Mr. Wang expressed warm congratulations on the successful founding of National Center for Financial Research, Peking University and showed his full confidence in the cooperation with Peking University. National Center for Financial Research of Peking University is a new-type research institution and high-end think tank created by Peking University under the auspices of Zhongzhi Enterprise Group. As an open research platform with international vision, the center will offer world-leading academic researches and combine financial theories with Chinese practices, with a view to providing research support to the country and society in solving major financial problems and contributing to the construction and development of Chinese financial market.
In the forum, Prof. Li Yining, an academic mogul and Honorary Dean of Guanghua School of Management, gave a keynote speech on the current economic situations of China. Prof. Li incisively analyzed the current new economic normality of China as well as the macro-economy, micro-economy and structural adjustments of economic development under the new economic normality and some other issues, and gave important opinions on hot issues like current market investments and employment. During his speech, Prof. Li shared some forward-looking insights and analyzed complex economic situations in very simple language, and the audience erupted in applause as the speech proceeded to the exciting parts.
Prof. Robert Merton from MIT, a winner of Nobel Prize in economics, delivered a wonderful speech on the role that financial science and financial innovation play in the transition process of the financial system of China. Prof. Robert Merton explained the significance of financial innovation and recognized the positive role financial innovation plays in national construction on a global scale. He also pointed out that the complicated financial situations offer great opportunities for financial innovation and hoped we could seize upon these opportunities and confront challenges. At the subsequent roundtable forum, many scholars and professional financial elites at home and from abroad conducted in-depth analysis and heated discussions on such issues as family enterprises and corporate governance, Chinese capital market and overseas financial strategies of Chinese enterprises. The list included: Prof. Cai Hongbin, Dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University, Prof. Huang Yiping, Deputy Dean of National School of Development, Peking University, Prof. Jin Li of Guanghua School of Management, Director of National Center for Financial Research, Peking University, Prof. Liu Qiao of Guanghua School of Management, Prof. Yue Heng of Guanghua School of Management, Prof. William Kirby, former Dean of Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Prof. Yang Xian, Dean of National University of Singapore School of Business, Mr. Fan Wenzhong, Director of International Department of CBRC, Mr. Zhao Xuejun, General Manager of Harvest Fund Management Co., Ltd. and Mr. Gao Shanwen, chief economist of Essence Securities.
As the economic reform of China goes further, financial reform and innovation are looming ahead. Deepening the reform of financial system and establishing modernized financial system have become one of important strategic objectives crucial to the development of China. This event marked the beginning of a series of academic activities sponsored by National Center for Financial Research, Peking University. The center will inherit the excellent academic tradition of Peking University and make persistent efforts to build an open platform to financial experts, scholars and professional financial elites at home and abroad for collision of ideas, blending of wisdom and exchange of creative thoughts, thus accomplishing the historical missions to promote the reform and development of the financial system of China.
