RENMIN UNIVERSITY, 12 June: Renmin University of China will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2014 Symposium on Public Private Partnership for Infrastructure Financing, a decision jointly made by the grouping’s 21 Member Economies through a recorded vote. This marks the first time for Chinese universities to host an APEC symposium. APEC is among the most influential intergovernmental forums in Asia and the Pacific region. China will be the host economy in 2014 and will be holding a series of meetings running throughout the year, including summits and ministerial meetings. This year’s theme is “Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership”. Under this theme, three priorities for this year will be “advancing regional economic cooperation”, “promoting innovative development, economic reform and growth” and “strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development”. The theme of the symposium that RUC is about to host is under the last one. In recent years, APEC members are attaching increasing importance to strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development. In applying to host the symposium, a team led by RUC President Chen Yulu was formed and proposed the topic after thorough research and discussion. Academic teams will conduct thematic research covering international economy, finance, industrial economy and international politics, and will deliver thematic reports during the symposium. Scholars and government officials from 21 members will hold discussions in the symposium. Think-tank building is one of the five strategies of RUC’s “10 Year Rapid Development Plan”. RUC aims to strengthen its research on current strategic and forward-looking issues through taking advantage of its academic strengths and establishing interdisciplinary teams. Other forums that RUC hosted include the Sub-forum on Public Diplomacy and Transcultural Communication and the Sub-forum on Public Diplomacy and National Image. In 2013, RUC hosted the International Think-Tank Conference, which provided important consultancy for the G20 Summit.