China Economic Theory Innovation award: special coverage

Editorial Note:For over 30 years China’s market economy has been growing and improving. Behind this is an economic community that that has been assiduously gleaning the fruits of reform and pursuing theoretical innovation. The China Economic Theory Innovation Award was launched recently for the purpose of summarizing and encouraging creative contribution to the research on China’s economic reform. During the first Chinese Economist Forum & China Economic Theory Innovation Award Ceremony, held grandiosely in Beijing, the Chinese economic community gathered to recall the process of reform and witness the birth of the first China Economic Theory Innovation Award. At the same time, Chinese economists conveyed their season’s greetings to the world economy. The following is an excerpt of the insightful speeches delivered at the forum by renowned economists Li Yining, Jin Bei and Hua Sheng.

A new stage of agricultural reform
Li Yining (厉以宁)
Professor and dean of Guanghua School of Management, Peking University

In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC National Congress introduced the rural land contract system that subsequently delivered a strong boost to China’s reform and opening-up drive. In October 2008, the Third Plenary Session of the 17th CPC National Congress attached top priority to agricultural reform and development and took urban and rural integration as the focus of reform at the new stage. On June 8, 2008, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued The Opinions on Pushing Forward Collective Forestry Tenure System Reform on All Fronts, which ushered in a new stage of reform.