From July 12 to 13, 2025, the Third Forum on New Quality Productive Forces and Chinese-Style Modernization was held in Qingdao, jointly organized by the School of Economics at Shandong University, the Institute for New Quality Productive Forces at Tsinghua University, Qingdao University, and other institutions.

The forum brought together more than one hundred renowned experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Nanjing University, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shandong University, Wuhan University, Nankai University, and other leading institutions. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as the digital economy, innovation-driven development, and regional development.

More than twenty scholars, including Hong Yinxing, Gao Peiyong, Guo Kesha, Chang Xiuze, Cai Jiming, Huang Qunhui, Lin Muxi, Gong Liutang, Liang Qi, Shi Jinchuan, Zang Xuheng, and Tang Jie, offered their insights and suggestions on the development of China’s new quality productive forces.

Professor Liu Binglian, Dean of our institute, delivered a keynote report entitled “Regional Economics Research in the Era of Digital Intelligence.” Starting from the new opportunities brought by the technological revolution for China’s development, he gave a comprehensive discussion of the transformations facing regional economics research in the digital-intelligence era. He proposed nine major development trends for AI-based regional economics research, offering detailed analysis in terms of research paradigms, disciplinary frameworks, theoretical systems, and ways to integrate with mainstream economics. He also introduced the recent progress of the China Regional Economic Application Laboratory at Nankai University. His report received high praise from the participating experts.

As an important center for regional economics research, our institute is the nation’s only “Project 985” National Philosophy and Social Sciences Innovation Base in Regional Economics, one of the first key discipline units of regional economics in China, and a co-initiator of the Forum of Chinese Regional Economists.

The participation and outstanding presentations of our institute’s scholars at the forum are of great significance for keeping abreast of the latest academic frontiers, upholding the fine tradition of “understanding China and serving China,” and better contributing to the country’s economic and social development.