On the afternoon of July 6, young scholar Denise Y. Ho from Yale University visited the China Center for Special Economic Zones Research (CCSEZR) for academic exchanges. Prof. Yuan Yiming, deputy director of the CCSEZR, Associate professor Zhang Ping and Dr. Ma Limei participated in the discussion with Dr. Ho. Prof. Yuan Yiming extended his welcome to Dr. Denise Y. Ho and gave a brief introduction of the CCSEZR. He pointed out that the CCSEZR is the only academic institute focusing on special economic zone (SEZ) issues among key research institutes of humanities and social science under the Ministry of Education of China and plays the role of a “national team” in the researches on special economic zones and China's Path. The CCSEZR has also established long-term relationships with emerging markets such as Vietnam, Russian Far East and Africa to offer policy consultation and SEZ planning for emerging countries. Prof. Yuan Yiming said that Dr. Denise Y. Ho is welcome to conduct further exchanges and cooperation with the CCSEZR as a visiting scholar and sent her an academic brand book of CCSEZR (English version).
Dr. Denise Y. Ho, a Chinese American, is an assistant professor of history at Yale University. She graduated from Yale University in 2000 and received her Ph.D. in Chinese history from Harvard University in 2009. She is the last disciple of the prominent American sinologist Philip Alden Kuhn. Cambridge University Press published her book about the history of Chinese museums in 2018. Now she is working on a new research project about China's urban history and wants to learn more about the development course of Shenzhen, one of the most dynamic and important cities in the era of China's reform and opening-up.
Dr. Denise Y. Ho delivered an academic lecture titled "The History of Urbanization in the United States: Taking Los Angeles as an Example" at the International Conference Hall of Shenzhen University. Associate Prof. Zhang Ping acted as the host of this lecture, Prof. Liu Zhishan, deputy director of the Immigration Culture Research Center of Shenzhen University, Prof. Ma Weihong, vice president of College of Management of Shenzhen University, and postdoctoral researchers Sheng Chunhong, Jin Yinxue and Wu Weilin of the CCSEZR attended the lecture. Dr. Denise Y. Ho introduced the urbanization process and stage characteristics of Los Angeles and made an analysis by comparing Los Angeles with cities like New York. She pointed out that there are many similarities between Shenzhen and Los Angeles. The development of Los Angeles and its surrounding cities can be used as a reference for the construction of Shenzhen as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
To respond to Dr. Ho’s speech, Associate Prof. Zhang Ping pointed out that as a young immigrant city, Shenzhen has made remarkable achievements. To maintain its innovative edges, Shenzhen needs to draw on the development experience of cities in other countries. Los Angeles is such a city worth further researching and learning. Prof. Liu Zhishan shared his feelings of living in Los Angeles for one year and compared the differences between living in China and that in the U.S. He pointed out that there are fewer framework systems in the United States, but people have higher self-awareness in obeying the rules. As an immigrant country, the United States has a very strong culture of inclusion. The immigration culture of the United States, especially Los Angeles, deserves an in-depth study. Prof. Ma Weihong shared her research on the history of Shenzhen's development. She pointed out that there are similarities in the division of urbanization development stages between Shenzhen and Los Angeles, but the fundamental driving forces behind their development are different. Enterprises play a significant role in driving Shenzhen's development. Dr. Sheng Chunhong proposed from the perspective of political economy that we can learn from the experience of cooperation and competition between Los Angeles and its surrounding cities and its transition from an industrialized city to a high-tech- and service-oriented city. The lecture was concluded amid a fully interactive and friendly atmosphere. Guests and students posed for a group photo in front of the International Conference Hall.
(Correspondent: Huang Mingkang)
