LSESU’s CDS to host 2020 China Development Forum
The China Development Forum, the flagship event of the China Development Society, the largest SU affiliated society for Chinese students, will be hosted on 8 February 2020. The Forum is held annually and can attract up to 400 participants. It seeks to bridge East-West differences and promote a broader understanding of China through dialogue and discussion.
The event will feature over 15 distinguished speakers from all walks of life, including UN representatives, CEOs, judges and academics from both China and the West. Of particular note is Dr Marielza Oliveira, UNESCO Representative to East Asia and Professor Kerry Brown, former First Secretary of the British mission to China. This year, the CDF will focus on the uncertainty of China’s rise and interactions with the West and will feature four panels on topics such as Western responses to China’s Rise, EU-China environmental policy, the development of the Chinese legal system and the place of Chinese culture in fashion in a globalized society.
The panels will discuss issues such as the Wests response to China’s recent success despite China not having aligned itself with Western socio-economic values, especially in regards to to the Hong Kong question and the Sino-American trade war. It will also focus on the rising climate emergency and the paradox that China represents in responding to the situation; while China burns about half the coal used each year, it’s also the leading market for solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles. Then it will discuss the progress and challenges of the Chinese legal system, with input from Ms Chi Yin, a former judge at the Intermediate Court of the greater Chengdu Municipality and Ms Katherine Wilhelm Director at Beijing office of Yale Law School’s China Law Centre, and will examine the key question of whether the rule of law is at odds with the objectives of the Chinese Communist Party. Finally, it will discuss the challenges of preserving traditional Chinese fashion given the increasingly internationalized nature of fashion and the rise in popularity of brands such as Gucci and Armani.
Rufei Wang, Vice-President of CDS and Director of CDF, told The Beaver, “The CDF has speakers and audience from all around the world, and represents a vast range of opinions and thoughts. This year we decided to deviate from just focusing on economics because we want the audience to see that China is taking a leading role in policy and culture. We wanted a broad range of panels, so there is something for everyone, no matter if they are an economics, history, anthropology or law student.” When asked about the speakers, Tina Pei, Director of Speaker Management, said “I am very proud of my entire team for the hard work they put in, inviting such a diverse cast of speakers, I really think that the CDF offers an opportunity for everyone to learn something new about China. Finally, when asked whether the event was focused only on Chinese international students, Rufei responded, “The purpose of CDF and CDS is to promote dialogue, we go to LSE, which is one of the most diverse and international schools in the world, so our aim is to have everyone involved and learning about China, that is the only way to foster growth and development and face the challenges of our time.”
You can find their website at:https://www.lsecdsforums.com/
