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In-Person Event

Tuesday, June 22, 2004, at 4:00pm – 5:00pm EDT

WESTERN CHINA DEVELOPMENT STUDIES CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

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The China Research Center co-sponsored the inaugural conference of the newly established Western China Development Studies Consortium in Chengdu, June 22-23, 2004. Hosted by Sichuan University, Southwest University of Finance and Economics, and the Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences, there were approximately 120 participants with a quarter traveling from abroad to attend.

Professor Susan Walcott, a Research Associate of the Center and the Director of the Asian Studies Center at Georgia State, presented a paper on high-tech zones in China, and Dr. Penelope Prime presented a paper on the role of universities in economic development co-authored with Donald Grimes at the University of Michigan.

Held on the campus of Sichuan University, the conference opened with several keynote speeches, including the Vice-Governor of Sichuan Province. Ping Du, the Director of the West China Development Office of the State Council, and Professor Wing Thye Woo of the University of California at Davis and Columbia University, gave updates on the development status of Western China. Twelve formal panels followed covering sustainable development topics from environment and health to regional migration and trade. The concluding session was highlighted by a speech by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Dean of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and the U.S. Secretariat of the Consortium. Professor Sachs emphasized the need to understand the economic geography of the region to help establish appropriate development policy and to decide which projects would produce the highest returns for the people of China.

Along with Professor Sachs, the other U.S. secretaries of the Consortium are Professor Wing Thye Woo at University of California at Davis, Professor Shuming Bao at the University of Michigan, and Professor Penelope Prime at Kennesaw State University. The consortium is planning an annual conference in West China. The location of next year’s conference will be announced at a later date. Watch the Consortium’s website for updates and information about the Consortium generally at www.chinadatacenter.org/westchina2004.