China's top-ranking think-tank: 500 million fund force research only Economic

In an interview with "China International Economic Exchange Center" Secretary General Wei, No. 22nd XI ' an men street, Xicheng District, Beijing, Wei is meeting with several guests at the 4 floor of a building in the State Council's administrative Bureau. Wei, former deputy minister of Commerce, is now the Secretary-General of the China International Economic Exchange Center (hereinafter referred to as "the National Centre").　　In recent days, Wei has been busy preparing for the first "global think-tank Summit" planned in July to address the global financial crisis. Two months ago, March 20, the China International Economic Exchange Center was formally established in Beijing, which was a personal instruction by Premier Wen Jiabao, the former vice premier of the State Council as Chairman of Zeng, brought together the Chinese political, business, academia, the strength of 500 million RMB funds backed by the think-tank.　　The goal is to build a think-tank with international influence in China's political, economic and cultural soil. The birth of China's international Economic exchange Center marks the strong desire of the Chinese government to participate in government decision-making, maintain the independence of thought and expand global influence.　　In order to learn more about the operation and composition of China's top-level think tank, the reporter interviewed the former deputy Minister of Commerce and the Secretary general of the Wei.　　Chinese think-tank: Can you give a brief introduction to the setting up of China International Economic Exchange Center? Wei: At present, the financial crisis sweeping the global economy has been hit by many countries, and our economy has been adversely affected. Therefore, we must comprehensively analyze and grasp the trend of world economic development, through expanding exchanges with foreign countries to grasp the initiative of development.　　It is in this context that China's international economic exchange Center emerged. The motion to establish the China International Economic Exchange Center began last October. At that time, several academics "put forward a letter" to suggest that, in addition to the need for a think-tank to consider issues in a holistic and forward-looking perspective, it also has to play the role of "communication". At present, our country is largely through official and foreign exchanges. Now, many Western countries in the formulation of policies and foreign exchanges, think tanks have played a great influence and assume the external exchange of the "platform" and "Opinion leader" role.　　We also want China to have a greater voice on the international scene and to make its own voices, and to that end, we can achieve this by setting up a reciprocal body. At present, there are many theories about "China threat" and "China plundering Resources theory", which are largely caused by the lack of understanding of the Western countries. These misunderstandings are hard to eliminate, relying solely on government efforts and official communication. The think-tank, as a nongovernmental policy research institution, can make the world hear the Voice of China by publishing research reports, holding international academic conferences, and communicating directly with Western scholars in Western countries.　　This unofficial channel can give the international community a better understanding of China. Although some think tanks in our country are playing such a role at present,In the international exchange, we also lack the international influence, can talk with the western top think tank such a think-tank. The Chairman and President of many of America's most famous think tanks are former senior government officials, the Brookings Institution's president, the former deputy secretary of state, and the President of the International Centre for Strategic Studies, the former deputy secretary of defense.　　Therefore, in order to further expand China's influence and strengthen exchanges with foreign countries, the establishment of China International Economic Exchange center such a think tank is necessary. Many think tanks abroad have a significant impact on the government. After the Obama administration's cabinet, many of his government officials are researchers from American think tanks. At the same time, some Republicans are working from the government into the think-tank.　　Think tanks have played a "revolving door" role in the change of government personnel. In some countries, many examples of ideas and policy propositions come from think tanks. Several of America's major think tanks, such as the Brookings Institution, the RAND Corporation, the Centre for International Strategic Studies, the Committee on Foreign Relations, have put forward countermeasures or suggestions for major issues in international relations and have been adopted by their Governments.　　That year, the United States to the former Soviet Union to adopt the Cold War method confrontation, is proposed by the RAND Corporation. Foreign governments, especially the United States Government, before the introduction of major decisions, usually first solicit ideas from the think-tank, through the think-tank to create public opinion. In fact, this is also to understand the various aspects of the response.　　Government think tanks usually have a number of weighty figures, such as Kissinger, Brzezinski, Scowcroft and other former U.S. government officials in the United States Center for International Strategic Research, these people have an impact on the U.S. government. We do well with foreign think-tank exchange work, can indirectly understand and influence foreign governments on some issues of opinion.　　At the same time, the use of folk channels this platform, can respond to foreign public opinion on our country some misunderstanding or false reports, organize experts and scholars objectively, detailed and comprehensive to the international community to introduce China, clarify the facts, increase the letter to dispel doubts, influence public opinion, in order to establish a good international image of our New 61 researchers prepare Oriental Morning Post: What is the composition of the China International Economic Exchange Center?　　What are the main tasks? Wei: We have 96 staffing, originally only 35, then 61 new, the new establishment is all researchers.　　Currently, we are recruiting, the number of enrolment is about hundreds of people, most of the applicants are ph. D level.　　The main tasks of the centre can be summed up as three things: one is to study the problem, the other is communication and cooperation, and the other is consulting service. First, in-depth research on major economic issues. In view of the concerns of the party and the Government, facing the needs of enterprises and society, organizing the research on the important economic problems and making valuable reports and suggestions. This is the core of the work of the Centre and is a fundamental task for us. These major issues focus on the international economic aspects of hot spots, focus issues, as well as with the international economy closely linked to major domestic economic problems. We choose research Topics, emphasis should be placed on strategic, macro, forward-looking, policy recommendations should focus on close to the policy, highlighting the pertinence and operability.　　Around the current financial crisis, we should seriously study some important issues. Second, promote international economic exchanges and cooperation. First, we should strengthen exchanges and cooperation with famous foreign think tanks. The centre should select some think tanks and scholars who have a certain scale and influence to study the direction of our research, so that they can "please come in" or "go out". Through the organization of special seminars, exchange of views, exchange of results, exchanges of information, enhance understanding. It is necessary to establish contacts with our friendly experts and think tanks, as well as with experts and think tanks that are not friendly to us. Second, promote the communication between government, enterprises and research institutions. Center to create conditions for many parties, building the official, production, research tripartite benign interactive platform. This platform can be manifested through various forms of carrier, some carriers are tangible, such as holding seminars, forums, some carriers are intangible, such as the release of information through the media and so on. Some well-known overseas think-tank activities are very frequent, such as the United States International Strategic Research Center, organized hundreds of public meetings each year, as well as many different forms of seminars to understand the situation and share the results of the study.　　Third, we should promote economic cooperation at home and abroad. Third, to provide quality services to the general membership. First, to provide members with information materials. Center to the domestic and foreign scholars views, the needs of member enterprises, domestic and foreign economic trends, real-time information, market prices, industry trends in time to provide relevant member units. The job is to be quick, to prevail, to be spiritual, not to be more. Second, organize various kinds of activities. In accordance with the issues of common concern, the center will hold seminars, forums, reports, research visits and other activities to create opportunities and space for our members to exchange and cooperate.　　Third, the provision of advisory services. The country doesn't give a penny. Oriental Morning Post: Where does the funding for China's international Economic exchange Center come from?　　How to operate? Wei: The National Economic Center is a community of civil society organizations, the center's funding sources are all on their own to raise, the state did not allocate a penny.　　In order to raise funds for research, we set up the China International Economic Research Exchange Fund (abbreviation: Sino-Chinese Fund), its highest decision-making and management body is China International Economic Research Exchange Fund Board of Directors, board members (including special director) temporarily by Chinese and foreign well-known entrepreneurs, philanthropists, social activists and dignitaries from all walks The China International Economic Research Exchange Fund and its benefits will be earmarked for funding research projects.　　For example, there are companies to study some topics, they put money into our foundation, we will be all of these funds for research. The main role of the Fund is to finance the development of major economic issues at home and abroad.　　The main areas of research include: World economic trends, international finance, international trade, transnational investment, as well as the international economic field of major hot spots, focus issues, national macro-economic, financial and financial, foreign trade, regional economy, industrial development and business management and other major issues and related policies. The fund will also financeTo carry out various forms of international economic exchange activities for the organization of Domestic and foreign think-tank, interregional, Inter-enterprise research and exchange to provide financial support. In order to guarantee the quality of the research results, the National Economic Center needs a lean research force. Many of the governing units of the research force is very strong, the center of the project through the tender, by a number of governing experts led by the organization concerned to carry out research. The results of the study will be reviewed by the Centre, with important reports and recommendations to be considered by the Centre's leading executive body.　　The research project of the center should be put forward by the Board of Directors and the fund boards, and it will be decided after full discussion. Our research is divided into three types: first, we have our own core research departments, known as "clerical"; two, not on the clerical, three, neither on the preparation, nor clerical, called "tendering system", that is, we have to subcontract some research, in the country and even the world to carry out tenders. After the award of the Research Institute, we will send our own chief economist or researcher to track the project. Our funds are also paid in batches to the winning enterprises, after the acceptance of the knot, we still have to pay a portion of the cost, rather than in the bid after the payment of all funds. This kind of partial payment way, can play the urging function.　　This avoids the lack of responsibility of the situation, to avoid the passage of events, shelved research results. In addition, the center is divided into four departments: Research Department, Consulting Department, Communication Department, cooperation department.　　Among them, the consulting department and the Department of Communications are responsible for the operation of the center, the funds are all spent on research, so as to ensure the independence of research.　　Financing has the bottom line, guarantee Independence Oriental Morning Post: How can China's international Economic Exchange Center ensure the scientific and independent research results?　　Wei: Some research institutions have many drawbacks, such as a lot of research institutions after a sum of money to do the report blindly: first, there is no timeliness, no time concept, no deadline, even the appearance of outdated research reports; At present, there are many institutions engaged in economic research and decision-making advisory services, but the strength is dispersed, the results of the weight is not much, has not formed a brand. As an open research platform, the National Economic Center can organize the research and consultation institutions with special features and advantages, and coordinate the action to avoid unnecessary duplication of work. We will use flexible and diverse forms to break the boundaries of geography, discipline, industry and profession, attract talents to undertake research tasks, meet the needs of domestic policy-making departments and large enterprises for high quality consulting services. The Center will organize international exchange on the basis of research, and can further explore various ideas, exchange information, and improve the scientific and democratization level of decision-making with foreign experts and scholars.　　The level and research results of a national think-tank can represent a soft power in the country. The National Economic Center has established a management system which accords with the law of scientific research, a set of management system which accords with the law of soft science research. This management system includes subject management, talent management, financial management and results management, which can ensure the efficiency of work and the use of funds.Reasonable. In particular, the Centre's research fund should be tightly managed, transparently run and subject to the supervision of the relevant departments.　　The fund has a slightly different name from the centre, which is called the "China International Economic Research Exchange Fund", which adds the word "research", which means that the Fund is devoted to funding research projects and cannot be used for daily expenses. While standardizing funding sources, the think-tank's funding channels are diversified, with clear rules and boundaries, and transparent.　　In addition, we have our own evaluation mechanism, focusing on the practicality, practicability and feasibility of the research of think-tank, so as to keep the scientific and independent of the research results.　　The think tank, the think-tank, also known as "think tanks", it refers to the public research institutions, which are composed of experts, multidisciplinary, and advise the decision-makers in dealing with social, economic, scientific, military and diplomatic issues, and provide the best theories, strategies, methods, ideas and so on. The functions of a think tank include: to put forward ideas, educate the public and pool talent.　　The think-tank first makes new policy propositions through research and analysis, and tries to get the public support and favour of decision-makers by publishing books, holding various kinds of communication activities and using media publicity. The world's leading think-tank: the United States International Economic Research Institute, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Brookings Institution, the American National Academy of Sciences, the RAND Corporation, the Hoover Institute, the European Union Forum in Europe, the European Union Research Association.