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The Beijing Cairncross Economic Research Foundation was established in 2007 in tribute to the late Sir Alec Cairncross who made important contributions to Chinese economic policymaking, training of Chinese economists and the development of contemporary Chinese Studies in the United Kingdom.The  Foundation was registered with the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau on 5 November 2007 and the registered fund was from China Construction Bank Co. Ltd.  It is an independent research Foundation and subject to all applicable Chinese laws and regulations governing research foundations. It is 4A grade social organization and was elected as an Advanced Innovative Social Organization by the All China Social Science Association in 2017. The Foundation has no affiliation with any other organizations in or outside China.


The Foundation aims to achieve this mission through collaborative economic policy research and dialogues between leading Chinese and international experts on key issues in China's economic reform and development, and the sharing of expertise that could enhance mutual understanding of, and partnerships in addressing, Chinese and international public policy issues. The issues addressed by the Foundation are demand driven by Chinese policy concerns as well as by concerns in the international community about China's emergence as a global power. These have included issues in China's medium and long term development, the deepening of system reform, industrial policy, competition policy, innovation and bankruptcy law in China.


The Foundation received generous support from enterprises and institutions in China since its establishment.The major donors include China Construction Bank Co. Ltd., China International Capital Corporation Ltd, CINDA Securities Co., Ltd, CITIC Securities Co. Ltd, Vanke Group and CIFI Group.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Foundation is to contribute to the strengthening of Chinese economic and public policymaking and the harmonious integration of China into the global economy.

Corporate Governance

The Foundation is registered in China as a non-profit, non-governmental body. It is governed and administered by a Board of Trustees and in compliance with applicable Chinese laws and regulations. There are two committees under the Board of Trustees: an Executive Committee (EC) and a Finance and Audit Committee (FAC). Both committees report to the Board of Trustees in parallel. There is one supervisor in the Foundation.


The Foundation is guided by an International Advisory Committee in its selection of priority topics, activities and modalities of support. The Committee comprises Chinese and international members who are currently active in, or were formerly from, academic institutions, international development organisations, leading international companies engaged in China-related businesses and research foundations.

  • Feng Xiaoming President
    Member of Executive Committee
    Member of Finance and Audit Committee
    Feng Xiaoming

    Ms. Feng is the Managing Editor of China & the World Economy, a leading bimonthly English journal in economics, co-published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Wiley. She is an Executive Member of the China Society of World Economics. She previously worked in international trading business and investment consultancy. She received her Bachelor and Masters degrees in Economics from Peking University.

  • Cyril Lin Executive Director
    Head of the Executive Committee
    Cyril Lin

    Dr. Lin was formerly: University Lecturer in Economics, Governing Body Fellow in Economics at St. Antony’s College and Director of the Centre for Modern Chinese Studies at University of Oxford; Director of the Oxford “Economic Training Programme”; consultant to various multilateral development institutions and international organisations ; and founder and managing director of an economics consultancy company. He received his BSc from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a MRP from Harvard University and a DPhil (Economics) from Oxford.

  • Zhang Weiying Head of Finance and Audit Committee
    Zhang Weiying

    Dr.Zhang is Professor of Economics at Peking University and formerly: Dean of the Guanghua School of Management, Peking University; and Research Fellow, System Reform Institute of the State Council. He was a student on the Economics Training Programme at Oxford where he obtained an MPhil and a DPhil in Economics (as a student at Nuffield College).

  • Chen Xingdong Trustee Member
    Chen Xingdong

    He was formerly President and trustee and has now returned to serve as a trustee. Currently Managing Director & Chief China Economist, and Head of Global Market Research (China) at BNP Paribas. He was formerly Economist at the World Bank Resident Mission in China and he served as section chief of the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System under the State Council, participating in a series of China’s opening-up and reform policy formulation and implementation. Mr. Chen was awarded the Chief Economist of the Year (2016) by China Financial Value Ranking. He graduated from Peking University with Bachelor and Master Degree in Economics and trained on macroeconomics in Oxford University as a visiting postgraduate under the Economics Training Programme.

  • Li Shi Member of Executive Committee
    Li Shi

     Li Shi is a senior Professor in the School of Public Management at Zhejiang University, Acting President of the Institute for Income Distribution. He is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and a member of Advisory Committee of the Poverty Alleviation Leading Group of the State Council, China. He received his Masters degree in Economics from Peking University and Bachelor degree in Economics from Nanjing University.

  • Li Ling Secretary General
    Member of Executive Committee
    Li Ling

    Mrs. Li previously worked as Programme/Operations Officer for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, the British Embassy Beijing, and Project Management Office of the Center of International Development Knowledge at the Development Research Center of State Council, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations.  She received her Bachelor degree in Economics from Peking University and Masters degree in International Development from Pittsburgh University.

  • Wu Suping
    Wu Suping

    Madame Wu Suping is the Managing Editor of the Journal “Comparative Studies”(Bijiao). She was formerly the Editor and Research Fellow of the CITIC International Research Institute. Madame Wu received her Masters degree in Economics from Renmin University and a Bachelor degree in Law from Zhejiang Normal University.

  • Edwin R. Lim
    Edwin R. Lim

    Dr. Lim was formerly: Country Director for India, for West Africa and the first Head of Resident Mission to China, the World Bank; founding CEO of China's first joint-venture investment bank, China International Capital Corporation, and Director of the China Economic Research and Advisory Programme. He holds a BA from Princeton University and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University.

  • Wu Jinglian
    Wu Jinglian

    Professor Wu is the Chief Editor of Comparative Studies (Bijiao) and Chief Editor of Hong Fan Review. He was formerly a senior researcher and professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Development Research Center of the State Council, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), and visiting professor at various foreign universities including Yale,Oxford and Stanford. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Economic Association (IEA). He was deputy Director of the Office of the Economic System Reform Program of the State Council, member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People's Bank of China, deputy director of the Ninth and Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Deputy Chairman of the Economic Committee, deputy director of the National Advisory Committee on Information Technology Deputy Director of the National Planning Advisory Committee. Member of Academic Committee of China Economic 50 Forum.

    From 1984 to 1992, he won the Sun Yefang Economic Science Award five times, the highest award in Chinese economics. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in social sciences by the Hong Kong Baptist University and the University of Hong Kong in 2000 and 2005 respectively. In 2004, the International Academy of Management (IAM) awarded him the "Outstanding Achievement Award". In 2005, he won the "Outstanding Contribution Award of China Economics Award". In 2011, the International Economic Association awarded him the honorary president title in recognition of his outstanding contributions to economic theory and policy research and academic exchanges between China and international community.

  • Michael Spence
    Michael Spence

    Professor Spence received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001 for his work on markets with incomplete and asymmetric information. He is Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business at New York University; Professor Emeritus of Management in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, and a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford. He served as the Chairman of an Independent Commission on Growth in Developing Countries (2006-2010), and was formerly: Dean of the Stanford Business School; Professor of Economics at Stanford University and at Harvard University. Professor Spence earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Princeton summa cum laude and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford where he earned a BSc and MA in Mathematics. He obtained his PhD in Economics at Harvard University.

  • Adrian Wood
    Adrian Wood

    Professor Emeritus of International Development at the University of Oxford. From 1969 to 1977 he taught at Cambridge University, and from 1977 to 1985 he was a senior economist at the World Bank, working for five years on China, in which he retains an active interest. From 1985 to 2000, he was a Professorial Fellow of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, and from 2000 to 2005 was Chief Economist of the UK’s Department for International Development.

  • Yu Yongding
    Yu Yongding

    Professor Yu is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He was formerly: member of The United Nations Committee on International Currency and Financial Reform; Director, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; member of Monetary Policy Committee, People’s Bank of China. He was a student on the Economics Training Programme at the University of Oxford where he obtained his DPhil in Economics as a student at Nuffield College.

  • Chen Qingtai
    Chen Qingtai

    Formerly: Party Secretary and Vice- Minister of the Development Research Center of the State Council. He was also formerly a Vice – Minister of the State Economic and Trade Commission under the State Council and President of Center for Industrial Development and Environmental Governance at Tsinghua University.

  • Yu Yongding Former First President
    Yu Yongding

    The first President of the Foundation (2008.1.17-2008.7.28). Professor Yu is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He was formerly: member of The United Nations Committee on International Currency and Financial Reform; Director, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; member of Monetary Policy Committee, People's Bank of China. He was a student on the Economics Training Programme at the University of Oxford where he obtained his DPhil in Economics as a student at Nuffield College.

  • Zhao Renwei Former Second President
    Zhao Renwei

    The second President of the Foundation (2008.7.28 -2011.9.19). Professor Zhao Renwei was formerly Director of Economic Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He has made important contributions to the research of political economics and won the SuYefang economic prize in 1984, 1986 and 1994.

  • Chen Xingdong Former Third President
    Chen Xingdong

    The third President of the Foundation (2011.9.19-2013.3.26). He was formerly President and trustee and has now returned to serve as a trustee. Currently Managing Director & Chief China Economist, and Head of Global Market Research (China) at BNP Paribas. He was formerly Economist at the World Bank Resident Mission in China and he served as section chief of the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System under the State Council, participating in a series of China’s opening-up and reform policy formulation and implementation. Mr. Chen was awarded the Chief Economist of the Year (2016) by China Financial Value Ranking. He graduated from Peking University with Bachelor and Master Degree in Economics and trained on macroeconomics in Oxford University as a visiting postgraduate under the Economics Training Programme.

  • Wang Haijun Former Fourth President
    Wang Haijun

    The fourth President of the Foundation (2013.3.26-2017.12.23). Formerly Chief Risk Officer of China CINDA Asset Management Co. Ltd, formerly Deputy Director of State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System under the State Council, Deputy General Manager of International Department, China Construction Bank.  He was educated in Economics at Peking University (BA), a member of Economics Training Programme at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford.  He holds PhD in Economics from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

  • Peng Sen Former Trustee
    Peng Sen

    Peng Sen is President of China Economic Reform Society. He was formerly: standing Committee Member of 12th National People's Congress, Vice Chairman of Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of National People’s Congress, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and Deputy Director of the Economic System Reform Office of the State Council. He has been working on the policy research of economic system reform and overall reform plan in government bodies since the 1980s. He holds a Bachelor degree in Economics from Peking University and was a member of Economics Training Programme at Linacre College, University of Oxford.

  • Jin Lizuo Former Trustee
    Jin Lizuo

    Formerly Chairman, Integrity Investment Company (China), and formerly with China International Capital Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Rostchilds Bank and the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System of the State Council, People's Republic of China.  He was educated at Peking University in Economics (BA) and was a member of the Economics Training Programme in University of Oxford. He holds a DPhil in Economics from the University of Oxford where he was a student at St. Antony's College.

  • Wang Yuan Former Trustee
    Wang Yuan

    Currently Senior Advisor of China Development Bank. She was the first Chief Economist of the China Development Bank, and successively worked on international finance, international exchange, training and development.  Wang Yuan was formerly: an Economics Officer at the World Bank, Director of International Department of the People's Bank of China and China Policy Advisor in Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. She holds a BA from Shanxi University, MA and Honorary PhD in Economics from University of Bradford, UK and MBA from China Europe International Business School.

  • Mr. Peter Geithner (1932-2016) Former Trustee
    Mr. Peter Geithner (1932-2016)

    He was an advisor to the Asia Centre, the Global Equity Initiative and the Ash Institute at Harvard University; consultant to the Rockefeller Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and other non-profit organisations; member of the boards of the Harvard-Yenching Institute, the National Committee on United States-China Relations, China Centre for Economic Research (Peking University), Centre for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania, Japan Centre for International Exchange/USA and Institute of Current World Affairs; Director of Asia Programmes at the Ford Foundation and the Foundation’s first representative to China.

Our CharterMore
Sir Alexander Cairncross

Sir Alec Cairncross was a distinguished UK government official, international public servant and academic in the field of economic policy. He held numerous senior public and academic positions, including: Economic Advisor to the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (1949-51); Professor of Applied Economics at Glasgow University (1951-1954); founding Director of the World Bank’s Economic Development Institute (1954-57); Economic Advisor to the British Government (1961-64); Head of the UK Government Economic Service (1964-69); Master of St. Peter’s College, Oxford (1968-70); Chancellor of Glasgow University (1972-96); President of the Royal Economic Society (1968-70) and Editor of the Scottish Journal of Political Economy (1954-61). In the 1980s, under the auspices of the World Bank, he advised the Chinese leadership on macroeconomic stabilisation and market reforms, particularly on counter-inflationary measures and price decontrol under conditions of shortages based on his own direct experience in the UK and Europe after the Second World War.

 

Sir Alec foresaw very early on the inevitable emergence and impact of China on the global economy and international affairs. He believed in the need for the West, and the UK in particular, to contribute to China’s economic development by training its future leaders in modern market-oriented methods of economic policy analyses and management. After his retirement from public life, he sought to promote the study of contemporary China in the UK. In the late 1970s, he was a leading member of the first British Academy delegation to China that resulted in the Academy’s programme of exchanges with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Sir Alec devoted much of the last decade of his life to the promotion of teaching and research on contemporary Chinese social sciences in the UK and at Oxford University where he was Chairman of the Centre for Modern Chinese Studies in 1985-1995. He led the development of a special one-year Economics Training Programme (ETP) at Oxford for young Chinese economists at Oxford. The objective of the ETP, supported by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the Ford Foundation, was to train Chinese government and academic economists in modern western macroeconomic management so that they could return to China and contribute to the market reform process. He and his wife Mary showed extraordinary personal kindness to Chinese visiting scholars and ETP students at Oxford. The ETP ran from 1986 to 1994 and trained around 50 Chinese economists, the majority of whom returned to China and have since assumed senior positions in government, academic institutions, companies and financial institutions playing an important role in China reform.

 

Sir Alec Cairncross was born on 11 February 1911, in Lesmahagow (Scotland), and died on 21 October 1998 in Oxford. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for his public services in the UK and internationally. Sir Alexander Cairncross was educated at Glasgow University and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied under John Maynard Keynes and obtained his BA (First in the Economics Tripos) and PhD.