Dr Ian Goldin, Director of the James Martin School was one of the key speakers at the inaugural Oxford China Business Forum, an event in Beijing designed to forge closer ties between China and the University of Oxford. Chaired by the Chancellor of the University Lord Patten, the forum explored how best to protect global markets from future financial risks.
The event was entitled ‘China and the World of Finance – The Role of China in Global Financial Markets’ and drew on speakers with a significant voice in public policy, business and academia, both from within China and globally. They included Zhou Xiaochuan, Governor of the People’s Bank of China, and Guo Shuqing, Chairman of the China Construction Bank. His Royal Highness The Duke of York, KG, The UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, was also present for part of the Oxford China Business Forum.
Dr Goldin, who was Vice President of the World Bank until 2006, said: ‘The prompt and robust response of China to the economic crisis has protected the Chinese economy and has been a vital stabilising force for the world economy. It is clear to me that China has a key role to play in helping the world address new systemic risks and the effective management of the new 21st century challenges.’
The Oxford China Business Forum was organised by the University of Oxford’s China Centre and the University’s Saïd Business School in collaboration with the China Development Research Foundation (CDRF), a not-for-profit organisation set up to advance good governance and inform public policy.
Lord Patten said: ‘One of the keys to stabilising financial markets and guarding them against future risks lies in excellence of research so we can explore the lessons of the past to inform new economic thinking. We are delighted that some of the top financial institutions in China have engaged in the inaugural Oxford China Business Forum as China is one of the great forces in the global economy.’
Oxford University is Europe’s leading centre for the study of China, with more than 40 academics studying pre-modern, modern and contemporary China. In May 2008, the University of Oxford launched its University of Oxford China Centre at an event attended by the former UK’s Chinese Ambassador, Madame Ambassador Fu Ying. The role of the China Centre is to ensure strong connections between Oxford’s many academics working on China in different departments across the University.
Dr Goldin is currently in China heading up a delegation of academics from the James Martin School at the "Summer Davos", the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions. Drawn from across the schools wide range of disciplines the scientists will be making presentations on their latest insights to an international audience of business leaders and policy makers.