On June 29, 2024, the 3rd “Governance of Mega-Cities in China” Symposium, a sub-forum of the 2024 Shenzhen University Greater Bay Area Academic Symposium, was successfully held at Shenzhen University’s Lihu Campus. The event was hosted by Shenzhen University (SZU) and organized by the Office of Social Science Administration, the School of Government, and the Institute for Governance of Mega-Cities of SZU, in collaboration with the Peking University Institute of Urban Governance and the Peking University Center for Chinese Politics. More than 50 experts and scholars from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao participated in the symposium.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Chen Wen, Party Secretary of the SZU School of Government and Executive Director of the Institute for Governance of Mega-Cities. In his welcoming remarks, Professor Wang Yongcheng, Vice President of Shenzhen University, warmly greeted the attendees and commended the institute’s achievements since its inception. He highlighted the critical role urban governance plays in advancing national governance modernization. Professor Wang also praised the institute’s initiatives in building a comprehensive urban governance database and expanding international cooperation networks. He expressed high hopes for the future development of the School of Government and the institute.
Professor Yu Keping, Dean of the SZU School of Government, Director of the Institute for Governance of Mega-Cities, and Chair Professor at Peking University, emphasized that the institute has achieved several “firsts” in the field of mega-city governance in China. These include publishing the Global Mega-City Governance book series, establishing the Global Mega-City Governance Research Network, creating a global database for mega-city governance, developing an accessibility index for urban governance, and organizing academic conferences on the topic. Professor Yu stressed that mega-cities play a leading role in the context of globalization, and the quality of their governance directly impacts national modernization and public well-being. The institute, he noted, will continue to focus on this area by strengthening international collaboration, promoting academic exchanges, and facilitating the practical application of research findings. Following the opening ceremony, an appointment ceremony was held, during which Professor Yu awarded certificates to newly appointed members of the institute’s board, academic advisors, and committee members.
During his address, Chairman Xiao Zhiwei, National People’s Congress Deputy and President of the Macau Development Strategy Research Centre, representing the institute’s board, expressed his honor in contributing to this significant initiative. He pledged full dedication to deeply engaging in all aspects of the institute’s work, aiming to jointly promote research and practical innovation in urban governance.
Professor He Zengke from Peking University, Director of the Academic Advisory Committee, highly praised the institute’s accomplishments, particularly in the fields of accessible urban development, urban governance database construction, and series of publications. He emphasized the crucial importance of mega-city governance from a global perspective, urging colleagues to collaborate on global urban governance issues to enhance collaborative governance among cities and contribute to building a better future urban landscape.
Professor Chen Guoquan from Zhejiang University, Director of the Academic Committee, emphasized the necessity for urban governance research to focus on the distinctive features of Chinese cities, particularly the impact of policies on governance structures. He noted a current theoretical and practical gap in urban governance research and argued that the definition of mega-cities should not be limited solely to population size but should also consider factors such as area and influence. He called upon the academic community to seize opportunities, collaborate, and provide new perspectives and solutions for global mega-city governance.
Following these speeches, the launch ceremony for the Shenzhen Urban Governance Innovation Excellent Case Collection (2024) was held. Professor Gu Zhijun, Vice Dean of the SZU School of Government and Vice Director of the Institute for Governance of Mega-Cities, presided over the event. Professor Wang Jiexiu, President of the China Society for Social Governance and Dean of the Institute of Social Policy at Zhejiang Gongshang University, announced the official start of the Shenzhen Urban Governance Innovation Excellent Case Collection (2024).
The academic presentation session was chaired by Researcher Sun Kuanping, Founding Deputy Director of the Peking University Institute of Urban Governance. Several prominent scholars delivered keynote speeches: Professor Yu Keping (Dean of the SZU School of Government, Director of the Institute for Governance of Mega-Cities, and Chair Professor at Peking University) presented his insights on “Reflections on Accessible Urban Development”; Professor Wang Jiexiu (President of the China Society for Social Governance and Dean of the Institute of Social Policy at Zhejiang Gongshang University) explored “Micro-Governance in Large Cities”; Researcher Ni Pengfei (Director of the Center for City and Competitiveness of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) offered an analysis on “The Rise of Chinese Cities: An Explanation Based on the Unified Development Theory”; Professor Chen Tan (Dean of the Public Administration School of Guangzhou University) discussed “Lifeline Management in Mega-Cities in the Digital Era”; Professor He Yanling (School of Government, Peking University) provided a historical perspective with her talk “Prosperity through Governance: A Brief History of Chinese Urban Governance Evolution”; Distinguished Professor Hu Weixing (Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau) examined “Collaborative Governance in the Greater Bay Area under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Framework”; Professor Xu Jiang (Head of the Department of Geography and Resource Management, Chinese University of Hong Kong) shared insights on “Who Benefits from Governance? Lessons from the Intercity Railway Planning in the Pearl River Delta”; Professor Li Yanling (School of Public Policy and Administration, Xi’an Jiaotong University) presented “How Tolerant Governance by Grassroots Governments Optimizes the Business Environment: A Perspective from Mega-City Governance”; Researcher Zhou Hongyun (Founding Deputy Director of Peking University Institute of Urban Governance) analyzed “Urbanization and Mega-City Governance Challenges in Latin America”; Professor Wu Jinqun (Executive Director of Center for Chinese Local Governance Innovations, Zhejiang University) discussed “The Production of Urban Space from the Perspective of Scale Reorganization and Territorial Restructuring: A Case Study of Hangzhou’s Administrative Division Reform”; Professor Yuan Fangcheng (School of Politics and International Studies, Central China Normal University) examined “Achieving Asymmetric Cooperation: Lessons from Paris”; Associate Professor Yin Yifen (Director of the Social, Economic, and Public Policy Research Centre, Macao Polytechnic University) presented on “Intercity Collaborative Governance between Guangdong and Macao: The Case of Hengqin”. The presentations provided cutting-edge perspectives and in-depth analysis, enriching the field of mega-city governance research with new insights.
The afternoon session featured an expert roundtable where attendees engaged in comprehensive discussions on three key initiatives of the SZU Institute for Governance of Mega-Cities: the compilation of the Global Mega-City Governance book series, the development of the urban governance database, and the formulation of the China Accessible City Index. Experts offered professional insights and constructive recommendations on these topics, acknowledging the unique value of each project while providing targeted feedback for further improvement. Their recommendations are expected to play a crucial role in guiding the future development of the institute’s research efforts.
Editor | Sun Baohua
Author | Liu Shuqi
Layout | Yu Xinzi
Initial Review | Wang Yingying
Second Review | Feng Xiucheng
Final Review | Gu Zhijun
