Dialogue with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus
On 16th December, 2014, China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) and the Center for Civil Society Studies of Peking University jointly held “Dialogue with Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus” as part of PKU Social Enterprise Serial Salon. Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Prize Laureate and the founder of Grameen Bank, conducted splendid dialogues with academic and business circles under the topic of “Global Perspective, Responsibility and Future of Social Enterprise in the New Normal”.
Global economy has entered into a period of “extensive adjustment” and “major transition”. Current social and historical contexts together with the factors of current development stage determine that China’s economy has entered a stage of “new normal” and new phenomena and patterns emerge which are different from those in cyclical adjustments. Thus, adjustments should be made on macroeconomic theory, policy framework and instruments accordingly. Social enterprises, new engine of economic growth in the new normal, are required to make adjustments to changes of the financial environment and market as well as policy adjustment. It is the common agenda of practitioners, policy makers, and academia how social enterprises will win market shares while resolving problems of poverty, unemployment, aging, environmental deterioration and other social issues.
Liu Shijing, Vice President of Development Research Center of the State Council, attended the dialogue as a panelist along with Professor Muhammad Yunus. Other panelists include Xu Yongguang from Narada Foundation, Kazuyoshi Fujita from Japan Earth Protection Association, Shen Dongshu from Beijing Leping Welfare Foundation, Xiao Ran from Guizhou Shengshengxiangtu Investment Corporation, Xu Qizhi from China Youth Development Foundation and Shi Yan from Shared Harvest CSA. Discussions are around “social enterprises and the New Normal” and “establishing a better future for young social entrepreneurs”. Liu Shijing made comments in the session of “social enterprises and the New Normal”, noting that “everyone should have equal opportunities to develop their talent and contribute to the country’s development”. Regarding economic development, Liu would like to see the “market force be combined with morality, which will make the development healthier.”
Lu Mai, Secretary-General of CDRF, addressed the salon, expressing great honor and gratitude to Professor Yunus and speaking highly of his achievements in promoting social enterprises. In his address, Lu Mai also looked into the future of promising social enterprises in China.
