Description

On September 18, an international academic seminar themed “Global City and Urban Development: Livability with Social Inclusion, Cohesion and Equality”, sponsored by Shanghai Academy, co-sponsored by the Institute of Sociology, CASS and organized by the Investigation and Data Research Center of Shanghai Academy, was held in Shanghai.

Featuring

Li Peilin, Vice Chairman of the NPC Social Construction Committee, CASS member, and President of Shanghai Academy, and Chen Guangjin, Director of the Institute of Sociology, CASS, respectively gave speeches. 

Li Peilin awarded the specially-engaged researcher certificate to Ye Jinlong, former director of the Economic and Trade Office of Shanghai Lingang Development and Construction Management Committee. 

Researcher Zhao Kebin, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy, chaired the opening ceremony.

With eight sub-forums, the meeting saw academic exchanges among scores of experts and scholars from a dozen countries about issues including “social inequality in metropolises”, “social governance and social policies”, “individuals, communities and cities”, “international immigrants in metropolises”, “new issues concerning development of global cities”, “metropolises characterized by diversification and differentiation”, “social issues in metropolises”, and “urban planning and governance”.

Critical Quote

"The meeting explores the major issues about global city and urban development, and covers every aspect of the “super cities” around the world. Focusing on the social level, the meeting would see discussions centering on key words, including; social inclusion, cohesion, and equality; offer in-depth study on the development of big cities from a broader perspective; and produce high-level academic results. He also introduced Shanghai Academy, and said efforts will be made to make use of the cooperation between the academy and the city and to improve Shanghai Academy’s capabilities in strategic research, political consulting, public opinion guidance, public diplomacy, and talent training, so as to advance the economic and social development of Shanghai."

— Li Peilin  

"At the seminar, both domestic and foreign experts and scholars will have in-depth discussions concerning the theme of “Global City and Urban Development: Livability with Social Inclusion, Cohesion and Equality”, which will be of practical value to the metropolitan development dominated by Shanghai and of positive significance to grasping the trends of China’s urbanization, and in controlling risks. Chen Guangjin also introduced the Institute of Sociology, CASS, which was set up in 1980 with Mr. Fei Xiaotong, the famous sociologist and anthropologist, as the first director. In the forty years since its inception, the Institute of Sociology, CASS has conducted sociological research centering on the major issues closely related to China’s economic and social development, such as family and gender development, urban and rural development and the changes within the urban-rural relationship, changes of the social structure, particularly social stratification, social mobility, and social poverty alleviation, youth development, and changes of social psychology, social policies, social welfare, as well as national and social governance. He also noted some significant achievements in theoretical research and think tank research. In the future, the Institute of Sociology will input more resources based on current research, highlight research on issues related to China’s two-step modernization strategy in the new era, and expect to see more international academic exchanges and cooperation."

— Chen Xinguang

"The meeting focuses on “global city and urban development”, and participating experts and scholars can have full discussions about social inclusion, cohesion, and equality of global cities, and share academic results. The meeting was held in Lingang New Area, Shanghai, which will be a new growth point for Shanghai’s economic and social development and a new example for future cities."

— Zhao Kebin