Brief History

Established in January 2001, Shanghai-Hong Kong Development Institute (SHKDI) began at a historic moment just as China was poised to join the World Trade Organization. Carrying profound expectations for bilateral cooperation, the Institute’s name was personally inscribed by Mr. Wang Daohan, the first President of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and former Mayor of Shanghai, leaving behind a lasting legacy. In its formative years, Prof. Yeung Yue-man from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) served as Co-Director, consecutively partnering with Prof. Lu Deming and Prof. Hua Min from Fudan University. During this period, the research focus was closely aligned with the nation’s post-WTO developmental landscape. With the staunch support of leading figures from the political, business, and academic sectors of both cities, SHKDI successfully established a solid academic foundation.

To foster academic exchange, SHKDI initially held annual symposiums alternately in both cities. Later, aligning with the promulgation of the central government’s “11th Five-Year Plan,” the Institute kept pace with the times and began to focus intensely on the synergistic development between Hong Kong and the Pan-Pearl River Delta, as well as Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta. To amplify its policy impact, the original annual symposiums were innovatively transformed into the Shanghai-Hong Kong Development Trend Forums in 2005. This shift successfully created a highly forward-looking platform for high-level dialogue, allowing leaders from all sectors to directly explore opportunities for collaboration and dual-city development.

Beginning in 2008, under the stewardship of CUHK Co-Director Prof. Sung Yun-wing and successive Fudan Co-Directors Prof. Shi Lei and Prof. Chen Shiyi, SHKDI entered a highly institutionalized phase of deepened collaboration. A major structural reorganization established new Advisory and Management Committees for long-term strategic oversight. To ensure research continuity, the universities introduced a five-year Cooperation Agreement and launched their first five-year plan. Guided by this robust framework, SHKDI delivered precise analyses on critical milestones like the global financial crisis, the Shanghai World Expo’s urban impact, and RMB internationalization. In 2015, this strategic partnership reached a historic milestone with the formation of the CUHK-Fudan University Partnership Steering Committee. Co-chaired by both university presidents, this vital committee comprehensively elevated cross-disciplinary cooperation to unprecedented new heights.

Building on this solid foundation, SHKDI significantly expanded its academic initiatives, solidifying its position as a top-tier think tank. Supported by a generous donation, the Dr. Li Dak Sum Shanghai-Hong Kong Development Lecture was established in 2013, bringing renowned experts to analyze pressing global issues annually. Concurrently, the Trend Forums evolved into the flagship SHKDI Annual Conferences, cementing the Institute’s status as a premier platform for academic exchange. To broaden its societal impact, SHKDI also began releasing strategic policy briefs, economic digests, and expert commentaries. These publications distill complex research into actionable advice, guiding public discourse on macroeconomic restructuring, global trade, and dual-city synergy.

In 2016, Prof. Du Julan of CUHK assumed the role of Co-Director. Navigating the complex global shifts brought by “great changes unseen in a century,” SHKDI continues to deliver high-quality policy consultations while expanding its academic footprint. As the nation rolled out the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) blueprint, academia grew highly interested in synergies between the Yangtze River Delta and the GBA. Against this backdrop, the SHKDI Seminar on Urban, Rural and Regional Economics was founded in 2019. This exclusive forum provides top-tier scholars a heavyweight platform to explore China’s urban-rural development and cross-regional strategies. In 2023, the CUHK Shanghai Centre was established in Yangpu District, adjacent to Fudan University. As a vital strategic base, it provides massive support for SHKDI to drive technological innovation and talent exchange.

Beyond advancing research, SHKDI is committed to educational and social engagement, translating academic strengths into tangible value. The Postgraduate Bi-weekly Seminars, launched in 2021, provide a dedicated space for young researchers to exchange ideas, amplifying SHKDI’s role as a scholar incubator. Furthermore, the Institute champions the Community Classroom project. Through diverse teaching activities, this initiative inspires students’ interdisciplinary interests in economics, politics, and culture, popularizes social science knowledge, and nurtures innovative talents with a strong sense of commitment. Looking ahead, SHKDI will continue to uphold its core belief in complementary advantages and mutual prosperity. The Institute will maintain its leading role in think tank research while meticulously expanding educational transmission and community outreach, contributing abundant wisdom to Shanghai and Hong Kong.