From June 13 to 14, 2025, the 6th China Regional Economics Scholars Forum was held in Nanjing. The event was jointly organized by Southeast University, the Spatial Analysis Committee of the China Regional Science Association, and the Urban and Regional Economics Committee of the China Annual Conference of Economics. The forum brought together numerous renowned experts and scholars in the field of regional economics to engage in in-depth discussions on topics such as high-quality regional economic development, economic transformation, and spatial optimization. The forum aimed to provide theoretical support and policy guidance for the development of a distinct Chinese knowledge system in regional economics. Editors from leading academic journals such as Management World, The World Economy, Nankai Economic Studies, Reform, and Urban Problems also participated in the discussions.

On June 14, Professor Liu Binglian, Dean of our institute, delivered opening remarks and chaired the keynote speech session. He noted that regional economics is undergoing a transformation—from being theory-driven to becoming data-driven with theoretical deepening—and emphasized the urgent need to construct a uniquely Chinese regional economics knowledge system.

Professor Li Lanbing, Director of the Strategic Development Department of Nankai University, delivered a keynote address on Chinese-style modernization and regional coordinated development, which drew widespread attention. Professor Zhou Mi, Director of the China Urban and Regional Economic Research Center at Nankai University, served as a discussant in one of the sub-forums and engaged in deep dialogue on critical issues in regional coordination.

The forum also recognized outstanding research papers. A paper by doctoral student Zhang Xinbei, supervised by Professor Zhou Mi, was selected as one of the conference’s outstanding papers.

As a major academic gathering in the field of regional economics, the forum provided a high-level, high-standard platform for academic exchange among Chinese scholars. It also made important contributions to the development of an independent Chinese economic knowledge system and the broader "Three Systems" of Chinese economics.

Our institute is the only National Philosophy and Social Science Innovation Base for Regional Economics under the "Project 985" initiative and one of the first key discipline institutions in regional economics in China. It is also a founding partner of the China Regional Economics Scholars Forum. The active participation and contributions by our scholars at this forum highlight the institute’s commitment to staying at the forefront of academic research and upholding its mission of “Understanding China and Serving China,” while advancing economic and social development.