[Beijing, 11 April 2014 (Friday)] – The Singapore Management University (SMU) has launched its Global Forum Series in China through a forum jointly organised with Fudan University in Shanghai on 8 April 2014, and with Tsinghua University in Beijing today.

The SMU Global Forum Series is a collaborative initiative between SMU and leading Chinese universities to provide a high-level dialogue platform for leaders from the business, government and academic communities to come together to discuss and debate the key challenges and opportunities arising from China’s development, as well as to share Singapore’s experiences in transforming its economy and building a harmonious society.

The SMU-Tsinghua Global Forum on Urbanisation and Urban Governance (‘Forum’) focuses on urbanisation which the new Chinese leadership has identified as a key driver of the Chinese economy at the Third Plenum in November 2013. The new policy will lead to significant challenges and opportunities in areas such as housing, transportation, social integration, employment and poverty.

Dr Liu Thai Ker, Singapore’s renowned architect, urban planner and a global thinker on issues related to urban change and development delivered the Keynote Address on ‘Singapore as Urban Laboratory’, while Dean of Tsinghua University’s School of Social Sciences Professor Li Qiang spoke about ‘Urbanisation and Integrated Development of Urban and Rural Areas’. SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, Tsinghua University Vice President Professor Xie Wei He, and Mr Eric Teo, Deputy Chief of Mission & Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore to China, were among the dignitaries present at the Forum, which attracted about 100 business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers and academics.

SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, said “SMU is committed to broadening and deepening our ties with China through research collaboration, exchange programmes, as well as training and development. We believe this will help contribute to knowledge creation and talent development for both Singapore and China.

“It is our hope that this Forum with Tsinghua University will facilitate the sharing of experiences and lessons learned by both countries in the areas of Urbanisation and Urban Governance, germinate good ideas and offer possible solutions to the common challenges faced by both countries.”

The Forum brought together leading experts from the two universities who shared the findings of their research, as well as senior government officials and business leaders to address the common challenges facing both countries on urbanisation-related issues.

The topics presented and discussed at the Forum today were Managing Urban Transformations, Social Housing and Social Integration & Poverty. There was also a panel discussion during lunch on “Corporate Social Responsibility”. Mr Goh Toh Sim Keppel Corporation’s Chief Representative in China, Ms Dorothy Seet, Chairperson of Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, Mr Wang Changyong, President of Hebei Guang Cai Investment Co., Ltd, as well as faculty members from SMU and Tsinghua University shared their insights at the panel discussion moderated by Professor Li Qiang, Dean of School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University.

The SMU Global Forum Series is an integral part of SMU’s China Initiatives which was established in the second quarter of 2012 to raise SMU’s profile in China as a research university in the broad field of social sciences. By doing so, SMU aims to contribute to the Singapore-China collaboration in business, government and civic society by nurturing China-ready and bicultural graduates who are able to function effectively in the business and financial environment in China. 

In April 2013, a senior SMU delegation led by President Professor Arnoud De Meyer visited and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tsinghua University to improve academic education and research, and annual exchange of students.

In November 2013, SMU launched its China Forum in Singapore to foster a deeper understanding of the trends and influences shaping the growth and development of China. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam was the Guest-of-Honour. Prominent Chinese scholars from leading universities including Peking University, Fudan University and Southwest University of Finance and Economics participated in the high-profile one-day event.

For more information, please contact

Teo Chang Ching (Mr)
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
Office of Corporate Communications & Marketing
DID: 6828 0451/ 94318353
Fax: 6828 0456
Email: ccteo [at] smu.edu.sg

About SMU China Initiatives

China plays an important role in SMU’s next phase of growth and international reputation building. The SMU China Initiatives was launched in late 2012 to focus on enhancing collaboration with existing universities as well as extending our network of partners in China.

SMU’s long-term strategy in China is to:

• Raise the international profile, brand name and reputation of SMU in China;

• Improve the quality of students from China admitted into SMU’s undergraduate, postgraduate and executive programmes;

• Broaden the engagement between SMU faculty members and their counterparts at leading Chinese universities in joint research and PhD co-supervision;

• Enhance student exchange programmes and internships in China for SMU students.

[Photo: SMU and Tsinghua University co-organised a forum in Beijing today to discuss issues related to Urbanisation and Urban Governance. Senior SMU and Tsinghua University officials and forum speakers present included (third from left) Dean of Tsinghua University’s School of Social Sciences Professor Li Qiang, Tsinghua University Vice President Professor Xie Wei He, SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer, Dean of SMU School of Social Sciences Professor James Tang, Founding Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Liveable Cities in Singapore Dr Liu Thai Ker, and Mr Eric Teo, Deputy Chief of Mission & Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Singapore to China.]