On the eve of SCU’s 120th anniversary, 2016 Joint Conference of International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) and International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA) was opened in Chengdu on 20th Sept.. The Conference was co-hosted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of PR. China, the Chinese Academy of Governance, and organized by the Chinese Academy of Personnel Science, Sichuan University, and Chengdu Municipal People’s Government. Themed with “constructing sustainable governance capacity”, this event is aimed at contributing wisdom to promote the construction of governance system compliant with the requirements of sustainable development by enhancing academic exchanges.

Yin Weimin, the minister of Human Resources and Social Security of PR. China, Mr. Geert Bouckaert, Chairman of IIAS, Mr. Michel De Vries, Chairman of IASIA; Kong Changsheng, the deputy minister of Human Resources and Social Security of PR. China, Rainie Wangdier, Assistant Secretary General of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Rolet Loretan, Director-General of IIAS, He Jianzhong, Deputy Director of the Office of State Commission for Public Sector Reform, Wang Minghui, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, Liu Hongbao, Vice Mayor of Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, Academician Xie Heping, President of Sichuan University, Prof. Luo Zhongshu, Executive Vice Board Chairman of SCU, Prof. Yan Shijing, Vice President of SCU and other leaders attended the opening ceremony, meanwhile over 500 representatives from more than 50 countries and regions as well as from the government sectors, universities and research institutions of China, attended the Conference. It was chaired by Mr. Chen Li, Deputy President of the Chinese Academy of Governance.

Xie Heping, President of SCU, addressed the Conference that it’s an honor for SCU to organize such an event on the eve of SCU’s 120th anniversary, providing a rare opportunity to comprehensively accelerate the construction of a world-class university. SCU has always been vigorously promoting high-end internationalized development strategies, and exploring for the latest academic development. It has thus made leapfrog progress especially in the research of public administration science, making it being highly recognized as a “think tank” by the state and local government. SCU is eagerly looking forward to working with colleagues in the whole world to make unremitting efforts for promoting the development of public administration, and contribute continuously to the sustainable development across the globe.

Minister Yin Weimin indicated in his speech that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the construction of national governance system. We are trying to constantly improve the governance capacity, and build a law-based government, an innovative government, a clean and service-oriented government, so as to achieve the goal of realizing modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, said Mr. Yin. I hope the Joint Conference and the present experts and scholars can insist on pragmatism and innovation, face directly the new problems and new challenges, strengthen communication and exchanges, and put forward more constructive results focusing on the theme of “constructing sustainable governance capacity”, in an effort to make new contribution to the development of global administrative science.

Geert Bouckaert, Chairman of IIAS, stressed in his speech that sustainable governance requires us to move from one model to another model, that’s to say, move from the model of economic growth by oppressing human beings and environment to the green social model of jointly promoting human well-being. As abundant topics are made available for consideration and discussion, I hope all experts and scholars clearly recognize their responsibilities and missions, and spend great efforts to turn the wisdom into reality.

Michel De Vries, Chairman of IASIA, expressed his hope that the experts and scholars here could exchange ideas and latest research achievements while enhancing comparative research, especially strengthening practical comparative research based on all nations’ achievements and experience, expressing their own views in a pleasant attitude, and working to their full ability for a successful and satisfactory conference.

Rainie Wangdier, Assistant Secretary General of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, mentioned in his speech that the 2030 Sustainable Development Agendawas unanimously passed in the historic summit conference held by the 193 member countries of the UN on Sep. 2015; however, in order to actually realize these sustainable development targets, the countries all over the world are required to constantly improve their administration capacity and face various challenges together. He hoped that the Conference will be able to boost cooperation amongst the countries, in a common effort to benefit the human beings and the Earth.

During the keynote speech of the Conference, Natalie Loiseau, Dean of France Academy of Governance, Kong Changsheng, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Security of PR. China successively offered wonderful speeches with themes of “The Status Quo and Future of Public Services” and “The Governance Capacity Facing the Future”, and had an interaction with the participants.

On the sideline of the Conference, many special meetings and sub-topic seminars were held, including: Intercontinental Administrative Forum, China Special Conference, Forum of Deans of International Institutes of Administration and Special Meeting of BRICS, etc.

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