Zhang Daogen, president of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, delivers a speech at a seminar on think tanks’ high-quality development. Photo: Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences

On March 18, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Fudan University and several other institutes jointly held a seminar concerning think tanks’ high-quality development and released a report on the ranking of think tanks in 2018 with related policy suggestions. The seminar focused on the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up and think tanks’ high-quality development based on their current circumstances, taking into consideration new demands on the construction of think tanks in combination with China’s reform, innovation, transformation and development, in order to improve the influence of new-style think tanks with Chinese characteristics.

The construction of think tanks is a key aspect of pushing forward the modernization of China’s governmental system and capabilities. Zhang Daogen, president of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said that we should make great efforts in the next stages of the Innovation Project and the High-End Think Tank Construction project to boost think tank development; strengthen communication, cooperation and research with other think tanks; and push ahead with the construction of overseas research centers and bases so as to provide more research data for think tank development, China’s reform and opening up, and modernization.

Liu Chenggong, deputy secretary of the CPC comittee of Fudan University and deputy director of Fudan Development Institute, said that to achieve the goal of think tanks’ high-quality development, first, we should ensure think tanks’ advancement and influence, which requires us to uphold correct value orientations, stay rooted in national conditions and protect our nation’s and people’s core interests with a strong sense of social responsibility and feelings for home and country. Second, we should be down to earth and practical, adhere to the principles of seeking truth from facts and keeping up with the times, carry out in-depth theoretical studies, and focus on the major issues related to theory and practice. Meanwhile, innovation and well-reasoned evaluations are crucial for think tanks’ high-quality development. Only through the delivery of high-quality research results can we continuously push forward with the progress of think tanks.
 

Quality and improvement are major challenges for think tank construction. Wang Jun, president of the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences, said that we should clarify the orientation and positioning of strategic think tanks, strengthen their command of problems, and improve the quality of strategic research. We should also promote connectivity between China and the world; push ahead cooperation with universities; integrate talent, scientific research resources and social resources; and build an integrated system for addressing major issues. Again, we should innovate with the administration systems of regional think tanks, improve regional think tanks’ abilities for making decisions and providing services in all aspects, and carry out long-term and strategic studies with clear emphases and advantages.

edited by SU XUAN