On 2nd July 2017, Shanghai Institute of International Organizations and Global Governance, cofounded by Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) and SIIS, was officially opened in Shanghai. Mr. Jiang Hong, Deputy Director-General of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Mr. Ren Xiaowen, Vice President of Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations (SFSSA), SIIS President Chen Dongxiao, and SUFE Principal Fan Liming launched the SIIOGG together.

Over 60 experts, scholars and government officials attended and witnessed the grand opening.

China’s participation in global governance and driving role structural reforms within international organizations is now widely expected. China aims not only to tackle cross-border challenges, but also to influence the direction and rules of future international order and systems. This attempt is not only to seize the high ground of development, but also relates to the status and role of each country in structural arrangement in future world order and international system. The new institutewas hence established based on such considerations.

 SUFE Principal Fan Liming, SIIS President Chen Dongxiao, SFSSA Vice President Ren Xiaowen, and Liang Guoyong, Economic Affairs Officer of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) delivered remarks at the opening ceremony.

Executive Vice President of Shanghai Institute of International Organizations and Global Governance Zheng Shaohua introduced the founding principles and establishment of the institute, while President Yang Jian presented the prospective working agenda for the coming years.

Shanghai Institute of International Organizations and Global Governance was cofounded by SUFE and SIIS dedicated to research on international organizations and global governance as well as cultivation of talents in the respective field, aiming to contribute to development of global governance. The newly established institute synthesizes the complementary resources from SUFE and SIIS, former with strong teaching capacity and international organization personnel training programs readily available, latter maintaining rich experience in international politics research, think tank development and international exchanges.

 

SUFS was founded a century ago, and now a top university with academic focus on applied economic and management science with subjects in economics, management, law, humanities and natural sciences. Over years, SUFS has fostered numerous specialists in finance, management and related subjects supporting China’s social and economic growth. SIIS, founded in 1960s, is a government-affiliated high-caliber think tank dedicated to informing government decision-making by conducting policy-oriented studies in world politics, economics, foreign policy, and international security. The establishment of Shanghai Institute of International Organizations and Global Governance shall enhance cooperation between the two mutually complementary parent organizations while serving government’s demand for strategy consulting. It shall also fuel the innovation-based transformative development plan of Shanghai, meanwhile contributing to the cooperation between education sector and social science research sector.

Seminar on “Community of Shared Destiny and Global Governance” was held on the same day. Topics discussed include “New Trends in Global Development and China’s Concept of Global Governance”, “Community of Shared Destiny, Global and Regional Governance”, “China in International Organizations: Theories and Practice”. Keynote speakers include Qin Yaqing, President of China Foreign Affairs University; Dong Weihua, Vice Director of Research Section at International Department Central Committee of CPC; Huang Renwei, President of National High-caliber Think Tank Academic Association at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), Vice President of Shanghai Association of International Relations. Attendees were scholars from higher education and research institutes including SASS, Fudan University, China University of Political science and Law, Fuzhou University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, SUFS, SIIS, as well as representatives from UNCTAD, Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, International Department Central Committee of CPC. Participants discussed in depth new trends in global governance development, implications of the community of shared destiny, China’s view on global governance and China’s participation in international organizations, etc.. The conversations enriched the concept of community of shared destiny, and provided constructive advice for global governance reform based on win-win collaboration and development.