Core competencies and relative independence are critical to the development of local think tanks in China.

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In China, think thanks have been experiencing something of a golden age since President Xi Jinping called for new types of think thanks with Chinese characteristics. Still, a number of local think tanks are facing challenges caused by unclear orientation, local restrictions and funding shortages.

The urgent task for Chinese think tanks is to enhance their core competencies and to influence policies. A CSST reporter visited a local think tank named the Chongqing Think Tank Institute (CQTI) in Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality and interviewed Wang Jianing, chairman of the CQTI, to discuss the ways that local think tanks can become more influential at the local and national level.

With an innovative dual status, the CQTI not only established the Chongqing Think Tank Association as a social entity in August 2013, but also registered the Chongqing Think Tank Institute as a business entity later. The former aims to provide policy research, analysis and advice to the government while the latter offers strategic planning services to enterprises to cover the operating costs and other expenses, Wang said.

The special dual status of the CQTI facilitates its operation and management because quick decisions can be made without having to wait for approval, like official think tanks must. It also affords the CQTI the freedom to develop its own agenda and conduct research more independently as well as make more objective assessments because it does not solely rely on funds from the government like other official think tanks and semi-official think tanks.

Research capabilities and orientation are vital for local think tanks to compete with those of their counterparts at the provincial and central level. Based on two main research orientations—the local effect of central government major economic and public policies, and forecasts of future central government policies—the CQTI has become increasingly influential on policymakers not only at the Chongqing municipal level but also at national level, breaking through geographic limitations.

For example, the CQTI won a bid to conduct a national research project focused on land reform in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan. More than 20 high-level specialists in contracting and residential land use, land policy, property and land-transfer market, both locally and nationally, including researchers from Renmin University of China and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, were gathered together to complete the land project of the CQTI. So developing a pool of mobile specialists plays a significant role for local think tanks.

Although the CQTI is registered as a local Chongqing organization, it operates nationally with global vision. As a powerful and increasingly influential think tank, nearly half of its policy advice services are provided to all levels of local government as well as enterprises outside of Chongqing, Wang said.

Wang pointed out the importance of influence for local think tanks amid a more competitive policy research field. The CQTI has also launched activities to support its research with effective dissemination and external relations strategies. For example, since December 2015, the CQTI has held a monthly forum that brings together researchers to discuss a monthly report released by the think tank, attracting media attention and building successful long-lasting brand, he said.

 

Li Yujie is a reporter at the Chinese Social Sciences Today.