From October 25 to 27, the annual meeting of the Regional Science Association of China (RSAC) was convened at Northwest University in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. This year's meeting was jointly hosted by the Regional Science Association of China and Northwest University, and organized by the School of Economics and Management at Northwest University, the Institute on Economy and Development of Western China at Northwest University, the "Belt and Road" Special Committee of the Regional Science Association of China, the Shaanxi Regional Economic Research Association, the Beijing Development Institute at Peking University, and the Yongxiu Think Tank. The conference, themed "Chinese-style Modernization, New Quality Productive Forces, and Coordinated Regional Development," featured 18 keynote speeches and 10 parallel forums on topics such as Chinese-style modernization and regional coordinated development, theory and practice of new quality productive forces, joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and major regional strategies, and the new pattern of large-scale development of Western China. The conference also included one high-end dialogue session and one journal forum. Over 300 experts, scholars, and guests attended the meeting, engaging in in-depth discussions and contributing academic wisdom to the prosperity and development of regional science in China.
The opening ceremony of RSAC 2024 annual meeting
At the opening ceremony, Yang Kaizhong, the Honorary President of the Regional Science Association of China, delivered a speech, pointing out that the Regional Science Association of China, as an authoritative academic organization in the field of spatial economics in China, including regional and urban economics, has provided significant academic support for China's modernization efforts through promoting academic exchanges and theoretical innovation with a global perspective since its establishment. RSAC has achieved a transformation from simply following the international regional science research to running alongside through unremitting efforts. This annual meeting focuses on "Chinese-style Modernization, New Quality Productive Forces, and Coordinated Regional Development," aiming to respond to the significant practical demands posed by Chinese-style modernization to regional science scholars in China, to explore the high-quality development path of China with new quality productive forces as the focus, and to achieve higher levels of innovation and breakthroughs in Chinese regional science research in terms of both theory and research methods.
Yang Kaizhong, the Honorary President of RSAC, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony
On the morning of October 26, during the first phase of the keynote speeches, Academician Yang Kaizhong from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Sun Jiuwen from Renmin University of China, Professor Li Guoping from Peking University, Professor Shi Minjun from Zhejiang University, Professor Gao Zhigang from Xinjiang Science and Technology College, and Professor Bai Yongxiu from Northwest University, respectively, gave keynote speeches on "A Comprehensive Model of China's Economic Growth Dynamics," "Disciplinary System Construction of Regional Economics Facing Chinese-style Modernization," "Several Thoughts on Developing New Quality Productive Forces According to Local Conditions," "Paths and Policies for Regional Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality," "The Impact of Green Manufacturing Pilot Policies on Total Factor Productivity of Enterprises," and "The 25th Anniversary of Large-scale Development of Western China: Process, Characteristics, Changes, and Transformational Development."
Scholars gave keynote speeches
On the morning of October 26, during the second phase of the keynote speeches, Editor Li Zhu from "Xinhua Digest," Researcher Li Rengui from the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Zhang Xueliang from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Professor Shen Tiyan from Peking University, Professor Fan Jianyong from Fudan University, and Professor Ye Chao from Fudan University, respectively, gave keynote speeches on "Several Suggestions on the Interpretation of New Quality Productive Forces," "A Brief Review of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics," "Prosperity with Growth: What Else Do We Need to Do," "Economic and Environmental Impact Analysis of Territorial Spatial Planning: Based on the Territorial Spatial Planning Simulation Model CTSPM," "Artificial Intelligence and Job Demand: From the Perspective of Individual Capabilities," and "Exploration of the Coupling Relationship between Flow and Locality from the Perspective of New Quality Productive Forces."
On the morning of October 27, Researcher Xiao Jincheng from the National Development and Reform Commission, Researcher Wu Yiqing from Hebei University of Economics and Business, Professor Zhao Ruyu from Ningbo Institute of Technology, Professor Guo Aijuan from Lanzhou University, Researcher Zhao Zuoquan from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Professor Ma Lili from Northwest University, respectively, gave keynote speeches on "Promoting Coordinated Regional Development and Achieving Common Prosperity," "Assessment of New Quality Productive Forces in Regions of China," "New Quality Productive Forces Giving Birth to New Types of Production Relations," "Industry-City Integration and Urban Productivity: From the Perspective of Economic Agglomeration and Intensive Development," "World-Class Clusters: The Chinese Chapter," and "New Quality Productive Forces and Symbiotic Development with the Global South."
On the afternoon of October 26, 10 parallel forums focusing on ten themes were held, including Chinese-style modernization and regional coordinated development, theory and practice of new quality productive forces, joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and major regional strategies, the new pattern of large-scale development of Western China, urban-rural integration and rural revitalization, spatial economic theory and application, cultivation of modern urban agglomerations and metropolitan areas, digital economy and regional industrial upgrading, dual-carbon goals and regional green development, and enterprise development and regional factor mobility. 145 authors from over 50 universities and research institutions, including Peking University, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, Nankai University, Wuhan University, Sichuan University, Lanzhou University, Northeast University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Yunnan University, and Northwest University, presented papers, and more than 40 experts and scholars served as chairs and commentators.
Parallel forums
On the evening of October 26, during the journal forum session, editors from over 20 journals, including Science Bulletin and Urban Rail Transit etc., engaged in in-depth exchanges with attending experts and scholars. On the morning of October 27, during the high-end dialogue session, ten experts conducted an in-depth dialogue and discussion around the theme of "New Quality Productive Forces and Coordinated Regional Development." At the closing ceremony, it was announced that the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Regional Science Association of China will be held in Beijing, hosted by China University of Geosciences (Beijing).
The journal forum (left) and the high-end dialogue session (right)
(Edited by Tieshan Sun and Paul Snow, RSAC, 2024.11.21)
