During November 7-9, Wen Xueguo, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy, led a delegation to the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR) of Mahidol University, Thailand, for a visit and participation in the International Seminar on the Population, Social Change and Social Governance in China and Thailand. Professor Rossarin Gray, Director of IPSR, received the delegation and chaired the seminar.

At the seminar, the scholars from both sides discussed the issues including population aging, social governance and youth employment in China and Thailand, as well as the structural characteristics and future trends of the middle-class in BRICS. Dr. B. Samutachak, Deputy Director of IPSR, introduced his research themed Work & Life Attitudes of the young generation in Thailand, which studied the attitude of young people in Thailand towards jobs and life, based on the data of different periods. Dr. C. Chamchan gave a speech entitled Thailand’s Population Aging, describing the phenomenon, characteristics and trends of population aging in Thailand. Associate Professor S. Musikawong delivered a report themed Migration in Southeast Asia, analyzing the migration patterns in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, as well as relevant institutional problems.

In combination with the cases of grassroots community governance in Shanghai, Professor Wen Xueguo gave a speech entitled People-oriented, Shanghai Community Governance Case, detailing the problems facing the social governance of megacities, the practice in recent years, and the directions of social governance innovation. Professor Chen Guangjin, part-time researcher with the Data and Research Center of Shanghai Academy and Director of the Institute of Sociology, CASS, gave a report themed The Great Change of the Pattern of Social Development in China under the New Normal Economy: From the Quantity-Oriented to the Quality-Oriented, centering on the core concept of social quality and offering analysis using relevant data about China’s reality. Besides, Professor Zhang Wenhong, part-time researcher with the Data and Research Center of Shanghai Academy and Dean of the School of Sociology and Political Science of Shanghai University, Li Chunling, part-time researcher with the Data and Research Center of Shanghai Academy and professor with the Institute of Sociology, CASS, Ji Qiao, part-time researcher with the Data and Research Center of Shanghai Academy and associate professor with the School of Sociology and Political Science of Shanghai University, respectively gave reports entitled Social Inequalities in Chinese New Urbanization, Middle Class in BRICS Countries: Growth and Challenges, and Large-scale Residential Community in Shanghai: Features, Problems, and Development. Professor Zhang Wenhong used the national survey data to analyze the structural inequality in China. Professor Li Chunling also conducted research based on copious data and compared the size, structural characteristics and development trends of the middle class in BRICS. Associate professor Jin Qiao highlighted construction of large-scale residential communities in Shanghai, as well as the problems worthy of attention.

The participants of both sides showed interest in the speeches delivered by each side, had friendly and full interactions and expressed wishes to intensify cooperation in youth research and urban governance, etc. Professor Gray, on behalf of IPSR, presented souvenirs to the visiting Chinese scholars. The meeting decided that IPSR researchers will participate in APA to be held in Shanghai in 2018, when both sides will have further academic exchanges.

(Article and photo by the Data and Research Center of Shanghai Academy)