In Photos: The Inaugural Global China Fellows Summit in Hong Kong
By Angie Ye
The Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) hosted the inaugural Global China Fellows Summit from July 11-13 in Hong Kong.
The Summit brought together over 30 former, current and incoming Global China Fellows, GDP Center staff and researchers and other key stakeholders to collectively discuss a policy-oriented research agenda that will enable China’s overseas economic activity to foster low-carbon, socially inclusive and resilient growth trajectories in the Global South. The Summit also provided an opportunity for seven cohorts of Global China Fellows to meet in person, learn from each other and create an alumni network that fosters collaboration.
The GDP Center has housed over 40 pre-doctoral and post-doctoral Global China Fellows since the inception of the Global China Fellows Program in 2017. The fellowship recruits and supports pre- and post-doctoral fellows from around the world to engage in policy-oriented research and commentary on China’s role in shaping global affairs. In addition to receiving support for their research, fellows also contribute to GCI research projects, public research seminars and policy engagement.
Below, see a collection of photos and highlights from the three-day Summit:
July 11, 2024 – Welcome Reception
The Summit kicked off with a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner reception. Attendees first gathered at the Rosewood Hong Kong, where Kevin P. Gallagher gave a warm welcome speech and shared the goals of the Summit for the next two days. Attendees had the opportunity to introduce themselves, connect with new and old friends and get to know each other.
July 12, 2024 – Research Day
The Research Day began with opening remarks from Kevin P. Gallagher and William N. Kring. They thanked participants for traveling to Hong Kong to attend the Summit and provided an overview of the agenda for the day. Gallagher gave an introduction to the GDP Center and GCI Program Manager Lin Zhu provided an overview of the Global China Initiative (GCI). While some were not able to attend the Summit in Hong Kong, former fellows, Keyi Tang, Keren Zhu and Victoria Chonn Ching, as well as incoming fellow Hanjie Wang, joined virtually.
The key components of the Research Day were the two ‘Research on Tap’ sessions. Each fellow had five minutes to briefly present their past and current research. They also shared what kind of collaborations or synergies they were looking for from the Fellows network. The first round focused on China-Africa, China-Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as China and the international financial architecture, while the second focused on energy and climate. Additionally, the day featured a keynote speech by Jun Ma, Chairman of the Green Finance Committee of China Society for Finance and Banking, on China’s Green Finance Agenda and its Cooperation with the Global South.
Subsequently, six fellows were featured in the Policy Roundtable Panel, moderated by Gallagher and Kring. Based on their experience in research centers, academia and private industries, they examined the opportunities and challenges to enhance the quantity and quality of Chinese overseas economic engagement.
The final session of the Research Day was organized around building a collective future of the fellow network. With the goal of fostering more collaborations between the fellows across different disciplines and research interests, the session started with Zhu presenting the proposal by the GDP Center. After that, attendees shared their insights on the ways the network of Global China Fellows can be beneficial to alumni and discussed how to stay connected and forge meaningful collaborations. The Research Day concluded with the closing remarks by Gallagher.
July 13, 2024 – Group Activity Day
Recognizing the value and objective of building a sense of community among the fellows, the GDP Center organized fun activities on the last day of the Summit.
The last day featured a group tram tour in the morning to Victoria Peak, the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island, and four walking tours with local guides, including Tasting Hong Kong, Discovering Hidden Hong Kong, the Disappearing Victoria City and Hong Kong Island Cultural Tour. Fellows were able to explore Hong Kong outside of the conference room and further connect with each other.
The Summit concluded with a farewell dinner and boat tour of the Victoria Harbor, marking a memorable conclusion to the inaugural Global China Fellows Summit.
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