Think Tank Updates || Our institute has been invited to conduct a series of specialized training sessions in provinces (and autonomous regions) including Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan, under the backdrop of a comprehensive package of incremental policies.

Recently, a series of comprehensive incremental policies introduced by the national government have brought new opportunities and challenges for local development.

Local governments are actively seizing policy opportunities and, focusing on measures such as “dual priorities” and “new initiatives,” are thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, as well as carrying out the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council. How to fully leverage the role of project investment in driving economic and social development has become a source of confusion for some local governments and financial institutions.

In recent years, our institute has actively fulfilled its social responsibilities, leveraged its professional strengths, and provided specialized consulting services in areas such as the new PPP mechanism, comprehensive incremental policies, early-stage project planning, central budget funds, special-purpose bonds, and ultra-long-term special government bonds.

Since October 31, 2024, Song Yingzhong, Director of the Project Investment and Financing Research Center at our institute, and Ren Bing, Deputy Director, have been invited to visit local governments, financial institutions, and state-owned enterprises in Qianxinan and Nanming District in Guizhou Province, Baise in Guangxi Province, and Mengzi, Gejiu, and Pingbian in Yunnan Province. There, they conducted a series of specialized training sessions on hot topics such as project planning under the new circumstances, innovation in investment and financing models, central budget funds, ultra-long-term special government bonds, application for special local government bonds, and new PPP mechanisms and concession operations. These efforts aim to help local authorities bridge the “last mile” between policies and projects, ensuring that policies are effectively implemented and yield tangible results.

Conference venue

Director Song Yingzhong delivered a presentation titled “Seeking Business Opportunities Amidst Change, Pursuing Development Under Pressure—Investment and Financing Project Planning in the New Context.” Drawing on the latest macroeconomic trends, a comprehensive package of incremental policies, and national initiatives focused on “dual priorities” and “new developments,” he examined investment and financing project planning from multiple perspectives—including government, enterprises, and financial institutions—and tailored his analysis to local conditions. Addressing specific pain points, challenges, and bottlenecks, he shared insights on how to revitalize resource assets, advance reforms in local state-owned enterprises, master project-planning techniques and methodologies, understand current investment and financing models, and explore practical implementation examples. His remarks offer valuable guidance and reference for future planning of key projects and multi-channel financing strategies. He particularly encouraged participants to study and delve deeply into these topics with dedication, passion, and heartfelt commitment; to actively shift their mindset and proactively adapt to the new normal; and to harness precise and effective project planning and implementation to unleash market vitality and social creativity. By identifying business opportunities amid change and pursuing development under pressure, we can use “reform-oriented approaches” to resolve contradictions and problems in our development journey and achieve high-quality economic growth at the local level.

Director Song Yingzhong

Deputy Director Ren Bing delivered a presentation titled “Key Points for Local Government Project Planning and Application for Central Budget Funds,” focusing on current key aspects of local government project planning, financing methods, and procedures for applying for central and provincial funds. Drawing on his extensive research and practical experience in project consulting, he systematically explained the precautions and techniques that local governments should pay attention to during project formulation and fund application processes. He pointed out that local governments must establish a virtuous circular economic mechanism based on regional realities—a “project pool, asset pool, and funding pool”—and that project planning should be forward-looking, balancing short-term benefits with long-term development goals to ensure project feasibility and sustainability. In addition, he provided a detailed interpretation of the application documents for certain central budget funds, helping local governments enhance their efficiency in fund utilization and better serve the overall goal of economic and social development.

Deputy Director Ren Bing

During the series of training sessions, participating leaders and trainees alike expressed that the training content was both theoretical and practical, thoroughly explained yet easy to understand, rich in real-world case studies, and profoundly enlightening—leaving them with newfound clarity and effective approaches for their future work.

After the training session, government leaders from various regions expressed their heartfelt gratitude to our institute’s research team and expressed their hope to continue receiving assistance from our Institute’s Policy and Credit Think Tank.

The Institute of Government and Social Credit at the Central University of Finance and Economics is China’s first university-based think tank whose primary functions include academic research, policy consulting, discipline development, talent cultivation, social services, and cultural heritage in the field of government and social credit. It is an open, public research institution dedicated to academic research, strategic consulting, and financial services in the government and social credit sector. The Institute is committed to promoting the country’s sustainable development strategy and serves as a vital force in advancing the comprehensive development of public-private partnerships between governments and social capital. Looking ahead, we will continue to uphold a spirit of professionalism and dedication, actively respond to the needs of local governments, and leverage the university’s strengths—such as its research resources, alumni network, government connections, and institutional assets—to support high-quality economic and social development at the local level. At the same time, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with even more local governments and jointly creating new prospects for development.