Ji Bin

Biography

Dr. JI, Bin is vice president of the All China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, vice chairperson of the China Youth Federation and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (China’s Upper House).

 Upon graduation from Peking University with a B.A. in comparative literature and L.L.B. in 1989, he joined China’s foreign service, working on Europe and international organisations.  He served as press officer for the Beijing 11th Asian Games in 1990.  He was also posted to the Netherlands and the United States.  He served as director general for European affairs of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, secretary general of the China-EU Association, councillor of one of the 18 district councils in Peking and member of the Executive Board of the World Organisation of United Cities and Local Governments.  He has an MBA from Edinburgh University and Honorary DBA from Napier.

China’s Economic Growth and Transformation

The Chinese economy had been growing at an average annual rate of 9.8 per cent during the 30-year period of economic reform and opening up between 1978 and 2007.   In 2010, China’s Gross Domestic Product overtook Japan and became the second largest in the world.   In 2011, China was the world largest exporter and second largest importer.  There are ways of explaining China’s economic miracle.  It is more important to reveal the current economic position and challenges of the country.  The talk is attempting to look into the economic growth and transformation of China during its 12th Five Year Plan period between 2011 and 2015.  It will cover such aspects as continued economic reform, sustaining economic growth and curbing inflation, minimising income disparity between urban dweller and farmers, expanding domestic demand, learning from European debt crisis, macro-control and China’s economic growth engine.  Depending on the interest of the audience, the presentation may also refer to the economic relations across the Taiwan Straits.