On May 18, the seventh Sun Yefang Economist Development Forum (formerly known as the China Economist Forum), with academic guidance from Zhejiang Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences Circles (ZJFHSSC), Sun Yefang Economic Science Foundation (SYESF), and hosted by ZUFE at its Xiasha Campus. The 2024 forum was themed on “New Quality Productive Forces and Chinese Modernization”.
Attendees of this forum included Ma Jiantang, a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC and vice chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee; Liu Wei, formal president of Renmin University of China and level I Professor of China; Shi Dan, director and researcher of the Institute of Industrial Economics of CASS; Chen Xianchun, a member of ZJFHSSC’s Leading Party Group and vice chairman of ZJFHSSC; Zhou Ji, deputy secretary general of SYESF; Shen Kunrong, professor of the Business School and dean of the Institute of Economic Growth of Nanjing University; Fan Ziying, dean of the School of Public Economics and Administration of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics; Zhouqing, vice president of HangZhou DianZi University; Liu Guojuan, a member of the Party Working Committee of Hangzhou Qiantang New Area, a member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee and minister of the Publicity Department; Li Jun, deputy director of Qiantang New Area Management Committee and member of the Leading Party Group of the government of Hangzhou’s Qiantang district; Li Jinchang, secretary of the university's CPC Committee; Zheng Yali, vice president of ZUFE, the head of the Secretariat of SYESF; heads of the related departments; colleagues from universities within and outside Zhejiang province; representatives of alumni; and the faculty and students of ZUFE. The opening ceremony and keynote report of the forum were presided over by Deputy Secretary of ZUFE’s Party Committee, and Vice President (leading executive work) Wei Jiang.
Chen Xianchun, on behalf of the ZJFHSSC, extended congratulations to the convening of this forum. He said that this forum concentrates on the significant theoretical and practical issue “New Quality Productive Force”. This is an active response to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s call during the eleventh collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to “accelerate the development of new quality productive force and solidly promote high-quality development. “It also implements the requirements set forth by then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CPC, Comrade Xi Jinping at the Fifth Congress of the ZJFHSSC on December 23, 2004, urging social science workers to adhere to the principles of “truth,” “passion,” “reality,” and “intention.” As a key provincial comprehensive and high-level university, ZUFE is one of the important forces for enhancing the academic level of humanities and social sciences and promoting the prosperity of philosophy and social sciences. It also makes significant contributions in conducting systematic research, providing theoretical explanations, and facilitating popular dissemination of the new quality productive forces. Meanwhile, Chen hoped that the 2024 forum would advance the theoretical innovation of the new quality productive forces and offer guidance for promoting high-quality economic development in Zhejiang Province.
Zhou Ji stated that the 2024 forum, focusing on current economic hot-spots, brought together distinguished scholars, government officials, and industry elites to exchange viewpoints. It would inspire innovative thinking, enrich theoretical frameworks for development, explore new drivers for new quality productive forces, and contribute to high-quality development. On behalf of the SYESF, Zhou extended heartfelt congratulations to ZUFE on its upcoming 50th anniversary celebration. He also expressed gratitude to ZUFE for its strong support in the establishment of the Library of Sun Yefang Economic Sciences Award and the promotion of the SYESF, thereby expanding the social influence of the Sun Yefang Economic Sciences Award. Zhou conveyed his best wishes for ZUFE’s continued success and a bright future, and hoped that it would achieve its goals of the “New Finance and Economics Strategy” soon. He also hoped that both the Library of Sun Yefang Economic Sciences Award and this forum would continue to thrive, contributing greater strength to ZUFE’s distinctive development and society.
Li Jinchang remarked that, ZUFE, a key participant in the Zhejiang Provincial High-Level University Development Initiative, has fully harnessed its disciplinary and research advantages to serve national strategies and Zhejiang’s economic and social development. By focusing on profound questions of an era, including new quality productive forces, Chinese modernization, and common prosperity, ZUFE has produced a number of original and pioneering research achievements. With the focus on major national and social needs, the forum continuously explores cutting-edge issues in China’s economic and social development and takes on the academic mission of addressing “questions of China, the world, the people and the times,” providing theoretical and intellectual support for high-quality development, the building of a great country, and the national rejuvenation. Moreover, the 2024 forum is both an exploration of the grand narrative of the nation and a response to the national call for new quality productive forces. Li hoped that through the exchange of ideas at the forum, scholars and experts would generate more valuable insights and strategies to advance Chinese modernization and energizing new quality productive forces.
Wei Jiang, presiding over the forum, pointed out that this year marks the 50th anniversary of ZUFE. ZUFE is currently planning and implementing the “New Finance and Economics Strategy”, and is embarking on a new journey towards becoming a first-class university of finance and economics. At this pivotal moment, the presence of scholars and experts signifies their deep care for ZUFE and strong support for its progress. Launched in 2017, the Sun Yefang Economist Development Forum has accumulated rich experience and heritage over the years. It has not only witnessed the rapid development of China’s economy but also promoted economic and social upgradation, gradually evolving into a high-level academic platform for discussing economic hot-spots and summarizing local reform practices. By gathering renowned scholars and experts to engage in dialogue on the cutting-edge issues and innovative ideas in China’s economic and social development, the 2024 forum carries the mission of offering strategic advice for deepening economic system reform and revitalizing the development of the economics discipline.
Six experts including Ma Jiantang, Liu Wei, Shi Dan, Shen Kunrong, Fan Ziying, and Zhou Qing delivered keynote speeches respectively on the themes of “Deepen the Study of New Quality Productive Forces Theory, and Drive the Development through Scientific and Technological Innovation and institutional Reform”, “Gaining a Sound Understanding of New Quality Productive Forces and Accelerating the Development”, “New Quality Productive Forces and Emerging Industries”, “Fostering a New Driver of Development: New Quality Productive Forces”, “From Productivity Paradox to New Quality Productive Forces” and “Empowering New Quality Productive Forces through Standardization”.
Ma Jiantang, a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC and vice chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, delivers a keynote speech
Ma Jiantang noted that the introduction of new quality productive forces is the latest theoretical fruit and systematic theoretical enhancement of Xi Jinping’s economic thought. It also represents an original contribution to Marxist political economy and a significant innovation in the Marxist theory of productive forces. To deepen the study and implementation of the General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives on new quality productive forces, we must prioritize scientific and technological invention, along with mechanism and industrial innovation. He emphasized the need to accelerate the application of scientific and technological advances, and to encourage researchers to integrate basic research and applied research. It is also crucial to cultivate talents proficient in both technology and industry, thereby forming competitive industrial clusters with strong competitiveness.
Liu Wei, former president of Renmin University of China and level I Professor of China, delivers a keynote speech
Liu Wei highlighted that scientific and technological innovation is the key driver of new quality productive forces. Science and technology constitute a primary productive force, not one of the traditional three elements of productive forces. They permeate the entire productive system. Liu said that essential tasks are accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and achieving a qualitative leap. This requires adherence to objective laws. Additionally, it is crucial to strike a balance between the role of the government, enterprises, and the market during the innovation process.
Shi Dan, director and researcher of the Institute of Industrial Economics of CASS, delivers a keynote speech
Shi Dan analyzed new quality productive forces, focusing on their characteristics, forms of realization, and development paradigms. Meanwhile, Shi proposed policy measures to accelerate development in four areas: scientific and technological innovation, integrated development of digital and real economy, corporate vitality, and talent-oriented development models. Besides, Shi noted that strategic emerging industries are key carriers for new quality productive forces, while future industries will shape their direction.
Shen Kunrong, professor of the Business School of Nanjing University and dean of the Institute of Economic Growth at Nanjing University, delivers a keynote speech
Shen Kunrong shared insights on comprehensively deepening reforms through three aspects: the internal and external backgrounds of new quality productive forces, the competitive landscape of these forces, and the new type of production relations shaped by comprehensively deepening reforms to fit these forces. Additionally, Shen said that responding to global shifts and pioneering a new path for Chinese modernization requires deepening reforms through high-level openness and achieving modernization through high-quality development.
Fan Ziying, dean of the School of Public Economics and Administration of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, delivers a keynote speech
Fan Ziyang expressed views on new quality productive forces and economic development model through the lens of the Solow Paradox. Fan outlined the key moments and realistic background behind the introduction of related policies, highlighting that such forces transcend the Solow Paradox by driving both groundbreaking innovations (from zero to one) and scalable advancements (from one to many). Fan stressed that in this process, finance—especially central finance—must play a pivotal role.
Zhou Qing, vice president of HangZhou DianZi University, delivers a keynote speech
Zhou Qing offered insights on how standardization can boost the development of new quality productive forces, drawing on the implementation of scientific and technological achievements. Zhou stressed that standardization is a crucial driver for such forces, with technological standards and innovation being key at the regional, industrial, and corporate levels. Zhou proposed developing comprehensive standardization plans and action schemes across macro, meso, and micro levels.
During the forum, Zhou Ji and Zheng Yali jointly unveiled Libraries of Sun Yefang Economic Sciences Award and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel as “Zhejiang Province Social Science Popularization Bases”. Liu Wei, Shi Dan, and Shen Kunrong accepted ZUFE’s appointment letters of course consultants of “Sun Yefang Economic Science Award and China’s Economic Development.” Ma Jiantang, Liu Wei, Shi Dan, Shen Kunrong, and Zhou Qing donated their signed works to the library.
On the same day, six sub-forums were held, addressing themes including “New Quality Productive Forces and High-Quality Development,” “New Quality Productive Forces and Proactive Fiscal Policy,” “New Quality Productive Forces and Financial Powerhouse,” “New Quality Productive Forces and Evaluation and Monitoring,” “New Quality Productive Forces and Digital and Intelligent Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” and “New Quality Productive Forces and Modern Governance.” During these sub-forums, experts and scholars explored ways to leverage new quality productive forces to drive economic growth more effectively.
Over 600 experts and scholars from within and outside ZUFE attended the 2024 forum to explore the pivotal role of new quality productive forces in economic development. Since its inception in 2017, the Sun Yefang Economist Development Forum has upheld the spirit of senior economists represented by Sun Yefang—“revering the law and safeguarding the truth.” The forum has focused on hot topics, advocated pragmatism and innovation, and offered suggestions to deepen China’s economic system reform comprehensively and advance the economics discipline. The 2024 forum offered valuable insights and decision-making references for establishing world-leading new quality production relations, further developing China’s modern industrial system, and collectively advancing Chinese modernization.
