Chang'an Forum (First Series)

Author: Editorial Committee of China Economic 50 Forum Series
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The "Chang'an Forum" (formerly known as "Chang'an Lecture Series"), organized by the China Economic 50 Forum, has been held since 2001 and has now reached its 100th session. The collection presented to readers consists of selected records of speeches delivered by Chinese economic scholars at this forum over the past 100 sessions. We have compiled them into a volume to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Chang'an Forum.
The China Economic 50 Forum is a completely non-official academic organization aimed at facilitating regular exchanges and discussions among scholars. It brings together researchers to discuss ongoing projects and inspire new ideas. Unlike the U.S. President's Council of Economic Advisers, which is a government body, or organizations like France's "Economic 40" (initiated by the Prime Minister's Office) or Germany's "Circle of Wise Men" (associated with the German Academy of Sciences), the China Economic 50 Forum has no official ties. It functions more like a "fellowship" of scholars, even though some members hold government positions. Although the National Information Center and China Economic Information Network played a significant organizational role in its early stages, the forum itself is not a formal institution but rather a platform for scholars to engage in spontaneous exchanges.
Since its establishment, the China Economic 50 Forum has organized numerous "closed-door" (non-media-reported) seminars. However, the Chang'an Forum is an open policy forum for the public, with no participation fees. Each session invites an economic expert or scholar to deliver a 40–60-minute presentation on a recent research topic, followed by a 30-minute Q&A and discussion. In just one and a half hours, participants can engage in in-depth discussions on a single issue.
For listeners, the forum offers a wealth of information and knowledge, allowing them to quickly grasp the cutting-edge developments in a particular field. For speakers, it serves not only as a platform to share their research but also as an opportunity to receive direct feedback, identify issues, and refine their work.
Over the years, the China Economic 50 Forum has consistently hosted the Chang'an Forum every two weeks. Nearly all scholars and experts who have made significant contributions to economic theory and policy have presented their research at the forum, covering a wide range of topics with in-depth discussions. Looking back, the scale has been impressive.
Given this, publishers and the forum's organizers believe that compiling the speeches or papers from the Chang'an Forum and other related public forums may hold academic value and help amplify the social impact of the research. During the publication process, authors have naturally made revisions and additions to their papers or speeches, so the collected works differ slightly from their original forum presentations. However, this is also a testament to the forum's effectiveness, as its purpose is to refine and perfect ideas through broader discussions and debates.
Nevertheless, this series still reflects the issues that have been of concern and discussed over the past few years, serving as a historical record. We will continue to organize the forum's activities, and thus this series will be regularly updated to more timely reflect the topics discussed, allowing readers who cannot attend the forum in person to stay informed and engage in economic discussions.
After all, China's economic reform and development require broader participation, more new ideas, innovative solutions, and greater democratic mechanisms to address the challenges we face and those yet to come, ensuring sustainable progress.