On August 18, 2020, the “8.18” events including the unveiling ceremony of the Research Center for Building Shenzhen into a Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics (hereinafter referred to as the “Research Center”) was held at the Party School of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC. Prof. Tao Yitao attended the events upon invitation and participated in the double unveiling ceremony of the Research Center and the Guangdong Social Science Research Base. She was awarded the letter of appointment as the first batch of special researchers and gave a speech as the expert representative of the first “Xiangmihu Forum”. Prof. Tao is the director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), Shenzhen University (SZU), president of Belt and Road Research Institute of SZU and president of the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRI).
Prof. Tao Yitao
On the morning of August 18, the first anniversary of the release of the “Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Shenzhen in Building a Pioneering Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics”, the Party School held the “8.18” events including the unveiling ceremony of the Research Center. And 13 domestic and foreign first-class experts and scholars, including Prof. Tao Yitao, were appointed as the first batch of special researchers. The Research Center journal Research on Pilot Demonstration Area made its debut, and the WeChat official account “Xiangmihu Think Tank” was officially launched. Attending the events were nearly a hundred experts and leaders including Cheng Buyi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Minister of the Organization Department of Shenzhen and Dean of the Party School of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC, and Zhang Zhigan, Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group and President of the Guangdong Federation of Social Sciences.
Prof. Tao is appointed as the first batch of special researchers
On the afternoon of the 18th, the Research Center held the first Xiangmihu Forum. The theme of this “Xiangmihu Forum” was “Special Mission of the Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics”. And Prof. Tao delivered a speech entitled From “Blazing the Trail” to “Pilot Demonstration” - New Mission of Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Prof. Tao said: “Shenzhen, as a city with exploration and innovation spirit, a practitioner of central strategic intentions, and a model for creating a modern socialist country, is becoming a pioneer blazing the trail, a new pole on the growth pole, a pilot demonstration area reducing trial-and-error expense, a highland of institutional innovation that can be copied and promoted in the historical process of China’s deepening reforms. To this end, the move from policy opening to institutional opening is required, and the problem that the actual openness is lower than the nominal openness must be solved. As the most successful SEZ in China, a city blazing the trail in China’s reform and opening-up, and a pilot demonstration area of China’s deepening reform and opening-up, Shenzhen, with its own practice, demonstrates the correctness of China’s path and the institutional charm of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and even more pursues a prosperous China.” Prof. Tao’s speech was concise, objective and clear, which resonated with the audience and received warm applause!
Prof. Tao is giving a speech as the expert representative
It is reported that the Research Center aims to integrate theoretical research resources inside and outside Shenzhen, and carry out theoretical research, decision-making consultation, education and training, cooperation and exchanges related to the pilot demonstration area. The center will build an academic research platform and provide ideological and theoretical support for advancing the building of the pilot demonstration area. The “Xiangmihu Forum” is an annual high-end forum initiated by the Research Center and a major academic activity in the research field of pilot demonstration area. It is dedicated to publicizing and interpreting decision-making and development strategies for building Shenzhen into a pilot demonstration area of socialism with Chinese characteristics, researching and exploring the focal points and hot issues in the field, carrying out experience exchanges to build a platform for cooperation and exchange between the theoretical and practical circles of pilot demonstration area.
