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.
