On June 6, 2024, the 19th lecture of Song Zexing Memorial University Lecture by Overseas Prestigious Scholars was held at the Jonathan KS Choi Hall of the Administrative Office Building at Puhe Campus. Chong Quan, President of the China World Trade Organization Research Association, was invited to give an academic report titled ‘The Economic and Trade Relations between China and the United States under the New Situation and Its Impact on Global Economic Governance’. Professor Yu Miaojie, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee and President of Liaoning University, attended the report meeting and delivered a welcome speech. Professor Yao Shujie, Dean of the Li Anmin Institute of Economic Research at Liaoning University, Professor Wang Weiguang, Deputy Director of the Faculty of Economics, Associate Professor Kong Xiao, Office Director, and Professor Liu Junting, Director of the Editorial Department of the Journal of Liaoning University, attended the presentation. The meeting was chaired by Professor Ma Xiangjun, Vice Dean of the School of Finance and Trade at Liaoning University and Vice Dean of the China Economic Research Institute.
President Yu Miaojie introduced in detail the experience and background of President Chong Quan, especially his significant contribution to the cause of foreign trade in China. In the 40 years of foreign economic and trade undertakings, President Chong has repeatedly led the Chinese government's economic and trade delegations to visit Asian, African and European countries to carry out pragmatic economic and trade cooperation. He has also made outstanding contributions to the construction of the country's rich, dynamic and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations. He has witnessed, participated in, and contributed to the submission of China's application to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) for the restoration of China's status as a contracting state to GATT in 1986 and the official accession of China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, in addition to many major historical achievements in foreign economic and trade work of China. As one of the leaders in China's WTO research, President Chong has made a profound impact and delivered outstanding achievements in the WTO and related economic and trade issues. He has made important contributions to promoting free and fair trade and economic and technological cooperation between China and WTO member states, promoting regional economic cooperation between China and other countries and regions, including free trade zones, and assisting Chinese government departments to improve the multilateral trading system.
At the presentation, President Chong Quan explained in depth the current geopolitical landscape of the world, recalled in detail the development history of international trade in China for decades, and conducted an in-depth analysis of the trade conflicts between China and the United States from the so-called ‘sweet period’ to the present. President Chong Quan used vivid stories and detailed data to introduce the important nodes and iconic events of China-US negotiations and the rift in China-US relations. He also pointed out that China's future development and response should adhere to the following strategies: continue to adhere to the leading idea of an an export-oriented economy, reform internally and open up to the outside world, adhere to the WTO multilateral trading system, unite all forces that can be united internationally, use its own institutional advantages to adhere to the current development model, and adhere to institutional self-confidence. President Chong has deep insights into China-US economic and trade relations and global economic governance, and his vision is far-reaching and broad. So, teachers and students at the meeting gained a great deal of understanding.
After the presentation, President Yu Miaojie, on behalf of Liaoning University, presented President Chong Quan with a commemorative plate of Song Zexing Memorial University Lecture by Overseas Prestigious Scholars and a letter of appointment as a tenured honorary Professor of Liaoning University. Professor Yao Shujie, Dean of Li Anmin Institute of Economic Research, presented a commemorative USB flash drive to President Chong Quan, and Professor Wang Weiguang, Deputy Director of the Faculty of Economics, presented the Liaoning University Think Tank Report to President Chong Quan. Professor Liu Junting, Director of the Editorial Department of the Journal of Liaoning University, presented the school badge and the school hat to President Chong Quan. Geng Liping, a teacher representative of the School of Finance and Trade, presented flowers to President Chong Quan.
The presentation was organized by Liaoning University, undertaken by the Faculty of Economics, the School of Finance and Trade, and the China Economic Research Institute. Nearly 300 teachers and students from the units affiliated to the Faculty of Economics participated in the meeting.
Chong Quan: biography
Chong Quan is the president of the China World Trade Organization Research Association and served as a member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Commerce, Assistant Minister, Deputy Representative of China in international trade negotiations, and as a spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce. He was in charge of the Law Department, the Anti-monopoly Bureau, the Bureau of Industry Injury Investigation, the Bureau of Fair Trade and other units, responsible for China's foreign trade multi-bilateral negotiations, WTO dispute settlement, and anti-monopoly work. He was also a representative of the 12th National People's Congress, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Director of the Asia Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Director of the Communications Department, Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, Director of the General Office and Director of the Information Office. He graduated from the University of International Business and Economics and Harvard Business School Advanced Management Class.
