CDRF Organizes Roundtable Seminar on Investment in Early Childhood and Human Capital Development
On 22 August 2023, China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) held a
roundtable seminar on investment in early childhood and human capital
development.
Fang Jin, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CDRF, gave an opening
speech. He said that the comprehensive development at early childhood stage is
foundational to a high quality population. It requires continuous practice and
research in concrete work.
James Heckman, Senior Advisor to CDRF, Nobel Laureate in Economics and
Professor at the University of Chicago, delivered the keynote speech. Professor
Heckman began with the topic of early child hood development and social mobility
through a discussion on the study of the China REACH pilot. He stressed the
importance of standardized data as well as qualitative and quantitative research
on early education programs. In addition, Professor Heckman highlighted the
importance of early childhood development for later growth, particularly in
terms of educational attainment, income, character and life stability. In the
context of China, Professor Heckman discussed the costs and benefits of early
education programs, noting that parenting plays a key role in early childhood
programs. In addition, he compares different programs and stressed the
importance of long-term tracking and cost-benefit analysis.
Du Xixue, official from the Population and Family Department of the National
Health Commission, attended the roundtable. He emphasized in his speech that the
Chinese government attaches great importance to children's healthy growth, and
that the development of childcare services is the foundation of life-cycle
services, and that high-quality childcare services can help to improve the
quality of the population in the whole society. He introduced the current
development of childcare services in China, including the number of
institutions, practitioners and service capacity, and emphasized the planning of
childcare services at the national level, including the target of raising the
number of childcare service capacity per 1,000 population to 4.5, which will be
supported by public finance, standards and regulations, demonstration and
integration of healthcare and childcare, among other measures.
Cai Fang, Chief Expert of the National Think Tank of the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences (CASS), delivered a keynote speech on the topic of "Investing in
the Talent Dividend of the Future". He pointed out that with the decline in
population and the accelerated decline of the working-age population, China’s
population dividend has faded, and need to improve the quality of the
population, especially by focusing on the development of children and
particularly rural children. Improving efficiency by reallocating public
education funding will require ensuring that resources are more equally
distributed to vulnerable families and children.
Wang Kerang, Director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health of the
National Health Commission, introduced the achievements and exploration of the
Chinese Government's work in the field of early childhood development and
health, highlighting China's policy initiatives and achievements, including the
principle of giving priority to children, the integration of prevention and
treatment, the full range of services throughout the childbearing process, and
child immunization programs, etc., and the Government's adoption of measures
according to the needs of the different stages of the process, including
prevention and treatment of birth defects, the five-point mother-and-child
safety system, child nutrition improvement program, etc.
Wang Sangui, professor at the School of Agriculture and Rural Development at
Renmin University of China, pointed out that preschools in villages have a
positive impact on children's cognitive and non-cognitive abilities, especially
in terms of mental health and social skills. Maintaining preschools in rural
areas and developing funding policies to support preschool education for
children from low-income families are critical to the country's human capital
development.
Lu Mai, former Vice Chairman of CDRF, commented on the presentation. He cites
President Xi’s instructions on population development and noted that China has
developed a high degree of consensus on rural children's development, especially
early development, and that this consensus is an important factor in serving
high-quality development, achieving common prosperity, and coping with
demographic change. It is critical to address rural child development now, and
taking action would have a significant impact on China in the next 15 to 20
years. Child development is the result of a combination of genes and the
environment, and he hopes that the government, non-profit organizations and
academics will work together to promote child development.
Representatives from CICC Charity Foundation, Amway Foundation, Gates
Foundation, Hupan Modou Foundation, and Tanoto Foundation participated in the
discussion.
Fang Jin, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CDRF, made concluding
remarks. He pointed out that early childhood development is a feasible long-term
high-return investment, which is a good argument for increased public
investment, and that China has the opportunity to develop its own
characteristics and models in the field of early childhood development, and to
make progress in terms of policy. He hoped that all parties would continue to
support the endeavor. The roundtable was chaired by Du Zhixin, Deputy Director
of the Child Development Research Institute of CDRF.
