The 36th CESA Annual Conference, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 23-24 November 2026

China’s Economic and Business Transformation in a Changing Global Context

New growth drivers, global reconfiguration, and emerging business realities

Hosted by

The Emerging Market Research Group, The University of Sydney Business School, and

The China Studies Centre, The University of Sydney

Call for papers

China’s economy is entering a new phase marked by structural adjustment, technological advancement, demographic change, green transition, and evolving patterns of business development. These changes are unfolding alongside broader shifts in the global economy, including the reorganisation of trade, investment, production networks, and regional cooperation. Together, these developments are reshaping China’s domestic business environment and its economic links with the Asia-Pacific and the wider world.

The 36rd Annual CESA Conference, hosted by the Emerging Market Research Group and The China Studies Centre at The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, invites submissions of original research on the Chinese economy and firms. This conference invites papers that explore the implications of these shifts for China’s economic development, business transformation, and international engagement. We welcome submissions from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives, including economics, business, management, political economy, and related fields. Topics may include, but are not limited to, macroeconomic restructuring, trade and investment, innovation and industrial upgrading, digitalisation, sustainability, regulation and governance, and China’s evolving international economic relations.

Conference Themes

The conference welcomes papers that examine, but are not limited to, the following themes:

  • China’s changing growth model and macroeconomic adjustment
  • Trade, investment, and the reconfiguration of global and regional supply chains
  • Innovation, digital transformation, and the future of Chinese business
  • Regulation, governance, and the evolving institutional environment
  • Green development, sustainability, and energy transition
  • China’s economic and business relations with Australia, Asia-Pacific, and the wider world

We look forward to receiving your high-quality submissions. Accepted papers will be presented at the conference, providing an excellent opportunity to share your research insights and engage in fruitful discussions with fellow scholars.

Local Organising Committee

Dr Wei Li (Co-chair), The University of Sydney

Professor Vikas Kumar (Co-chair), The University of Sydney

Professor Roc Shi (Co-chair), University of Technology Sydney

Key Dates

Abstract submissions open: 15 April 2026

Abstract submissions deadline: 1 August 2026

Early bird registration deadline: 31 August 2026

Registration Fees

Registration fee: AU$385, including GST.
Student registration fee: AU$275, including GST.
Early bird discount: AU$50.
Please note that registration does not include the conference dinner. The conference dinner is charged separately at AU$132, including GST.

Conference enquiries and paper abstract submissions: cesa2026@163.com

Conference website: https://www.aeti.au/cesa2026

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Vale Emeritus Professor Chunlai Chen of Australian National University

It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of the passing of Professor Chunlai Chen of the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, who passed away due to illness in Canberra on 2 July 2025, at the age of 68.
Professor Chen began his career at the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Beijing Forestry University, a master’s degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a PhD from the University of Adelaide in Australia. He subsequently taught at the University of Adelaide before joining the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University in 2001, where he dedicated himself to research and teaching in agricultural economics, the Chinese economy, foreign direct investment, and international trade institutions.
Professor Chen made significant contributions to the study of foreign direct investment (FDI), publishing two academic monographs and numerous articles in leading international journals. He was recognized globally as a leading scholar in the field.
His postgraduate courses on “Foreign Direct Investment” and “World Trade Organization” were highly popular among students, consistently receiving near-perfect teaching evaluations and earning him several university-level teaching awards. He also played a key role in establishing and promoting joint master’s programs between ANU and several Chinese universities, many of which are still ongoing.
Professor Chen was known for his resilience, optimism, and thoughtful, objective judgment. He approached his work with utmost focus and rigor, and treated others with humility, kindness, and generosity. He was particularly supportive of early-career researchers. Even during his illness, he continued to lead his project team and successfully completed a research project on regional agricultural development funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
In addition, Professor Chen devoted considerable energy to the Chinese Economics Society in Australia (CESA). He served as its President and was a long-standing member of its Academic Committee, actively contributing ideas and support to the society’s development.
May Professor Chen rest in peace. Our deepest condolences go to his family. We wish them strength and comfort during this difficult time.

讣告
我们怀着沉痛的心情告知大家,澳大利亚国立大学克劳福德公共政策学院陈春来教授因病于2025年7月2日在堪培拉去世,享年68岁。
陈春来教授早年在中国社会科学院农村发展研究所工作,先后获得北京林业大学学士学位、哈佛大学肯尼迪政府学院硕士学位,以及澳大利亚阿德莱德大学博士学位。此后,他进入澳大利亚阿德莱德大学任教,并于2001年加入澳大利亚国立大学克劳福德公共政策学院,长期从事农业经济学、中国经济、对外直接投资与国际贸易体制等领域的研究与教学工作。
在外商直接投资研究领域,陈春来教授成果卓著,出版了两部学术专著并在国际权威期刊上发表多篇论文,成为该领域的国际知名学者。
他讲授的研究生课程“对外直接投资”和“世界贸易组织”深受学生喜爱,教学评价常年接近满分,并因此多次获得学校教学奖项。他还积极推动澳大利亚国立大学与中国多所高校的硕士联合培养项目,这些项目至今仍在持续开展。
陈春来教授性格坚毅乐观,观察细致、判断客观,治学严谨、一丝不苟。为人谦和友善、乐于助人,尤为关心青年学者的成长。在病中期间,他仍坚持工作,带领项目团队成功完成了澳大利亚国际农业研究中心资助的地区农业发展课题。
此外,陈教授长期关心并积极参与“留澳中国经济学会(CESA)”的工作,曾担任学会主席,并常年任学术委员会委员,为学会的发展建言献策、倾注心力。
愿春来教授一路走好。愿其家人节哀顺变,保重身体!

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Call for papers, The 35th CESA Annual Conference, Deakin University, Melbourne Australia, 1-2 December 2025

Call for papers

The 35th Annual Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA)

Theme: Artificial Intelligence, Future World of Work, and the Global Economy

Department of Economics and Department of Finance,

Deakin Business School,

Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

1-2 December 2025

Hosted by Deakin Business School in Melbourne, Australia, the 35th Annual Conference of the Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) aims to explore the impact of the artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping China’s economic landscape and its profound implications for the global economy. As AI technologies advance at an unprecedented pace, China has emerged as a pivotal actor in their adoption, integrating AI-driven innovations across strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, fintech, healthcare automation, and intelligent logistics systems.

While AI adoption presents a viable pathway to address systemic labor shortages – exacerbated by declining fertility rates and a rapidly aging population – it simultaneously disrupts traditional employment structures, amplifying demand for high-skill labor and necessitating large-scale workforce reskilling and adaptation. This shift also impacts areas like savings, consumption, fertility, health, and eldercare. At the heart of this issue is the challenge of aligning productivity gains with fair transitions in the labor market, a balance essential for maintaining social stability and fostering sustainable, inclusive development.

Furthermore, China’s AI policy framework carries significant ramifications for global trade networks, cross-border investment flows, and geopolitical competition, with the potential to reconfigure international market dynamics. This conference invites scholars to engage in rigorous interdisciplinary dialogue on strategies to navigate these dualities, fostering resilient and equitable economic systems in an AI-dominated era.  

Keynote Speakers

Call for papers

The conference welcomes both theoretical and empirical contributions, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary perspectives that bridge economics, policy analysis, and technological foresight. By convening global experts, this forum aims to advance scholarly understanding and inform evidence-based policymaking in an era of unprecedented technological disruption.

Submissions are encouraged to address, but are not limited to, the following themes:  

  • Labor economics and workforce dynamics
  • Public policy
  • Productivity paradigms and their interplay with technological innovation.  
  • Economic growth and development
  • Wealth distribution and income inequality
  • Global trade
  • Household economics
  • Healthcare economics
  • Financial markets and investment
  • Banking and financial system  

Paper abstract submissions: cesa2025melbourne@gmail.com 

Special Issues:

  • China Economic Review
  • China Economic Journal
  • Review of Economics of the Household
  • Singapore Economic Review
  • Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies
  • Asian-Pacific Economic Literature

Key dates:

  • Abstract submissions open: 1 April 2025
  • Abstract submissions extended to: 31 August 2025
  • Early bird registration opens: 1 August 2025
  • Early bird registration closed: 15 October 2025
  • Registration closed: 15 November 2025
  • CESA Conference: 1-2 December 2025
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The 34th Annual Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA), Centre for Enterprise Dynamics in Global Economies and UniSA STEM Aviation, University of South Australia, 27-30 November 2024

The 34th Annual Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA)

Theme: Building “new quality productive forces” – the implications to China and the World

Centre for Enterprise Dynamics in Global Economics and UniSA STEM Aviation, University of South Australia

Date: 27-30 November 2024

The annual conference of the Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) aims to attract worldwide scholars interested in addressing significant issues related to the Chinese economy and evaluating the impacts of China’s development on the global economy. The 34th Annual CESA Conference, jointly hosted by University of South Australia and The University of Adelaide, provides a platform for discussing China’s new development policy of building ‘new quality productive forces’ to promote high-quality growth, and its implications.

Over the past few decades, China has ascended as a prominent economic force, providing abundant business prospects for both developing and developed economies due to its rapid economic development and increasing global influence. China’s recent development trajectory underscores a shift towards a more sustainable and innovation-driven growth model. Prioritizing private enterprise development, technological advancements, environmental protection, and social well-being, China aims to enhance the overall quality of economic growth rather than mere GDP expansion. Understanding this new development focus and its potential implications for the Chinese and world economies is imperative. We invite scholars from Australia, China, and other countries to contribute and present research that advances our comprehension of China’s past success, lessons learned, and future directions at the 34th CESA annual conference.

We welcome any research topics including but not limited to:

Agriculture and food security

Aviation and transport logistics

Climate change

COVID-19 and its ongoing impacts

Digital economy and the impact of AI

Ecological economics

Energy economics and finance

Entrepreneurial leadership

Environmental and resource economics

FDI, trade and industrial policies in China

Feminist economics

Geopolitical risks and political uncertainty

Health economics

Income and wealth inequality

Innovation and productivity growth

Macroeconomy and policy implications

Population and labour market

Tourism and hospitality

Papers that do not fit into these categories but are related to the main theme of the conference, are also welcome.

Keynote speakers: 

Prof Yang Yao, China Center for Economic Research & National School of Development,
Peking University

Prof Christine Wong, National University of Singapore

Special Issues

China Economic Review

Asian-Pacific Economic Literature

Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies 

The Editor-in-Chief of Economics & Politics, Dr Lei Xu invites submissions if the paper falls into the scope of the journal. The Chief Editor has agreed to fast-track the papers presented at this conference.

Professor Shane Zhang welcomes submissions to the special issue for Journal of Air Transport Management on airline financial stability

Associate Professor Alec Zuo welcomes submissions to the special issue for Water Resources and Economics on Economics of Water Resources Management in China

CESA President: Yixiao Zhou, Australian National University

The Local Organising Committee:

Chair: Dr Xin Deng, University of South Australia

Members:

Prof Ying Zhu, University of South Australia

Dr Lei Xu, University of South Australia

Prof Alec Zuo, Flinders University 

Dr Zhifang Wu, University of South Australia

Dr Yifei Cai, University of South Australia

Dr Di Zeng, The University of Adelaide

Prof Shane Zhang, University of South Australia

Key Dates

Abstract submissions open: 1 May 2024

Abstract submissions extended to: 15 September 2024

Early bird registration open: 1 June 2024

Early bird registration closed: 15 October 2024

Registration closed: 15 November 2024

UniSA Aviation Sustainable Fuel Forum and CESA Networking Reception: 27 November 

CESA Welcome and Plenary Sessions, and Concurrent sessions:  28 November 2024

CESA Concurrent Sessions: 29 November 2024

South Australian business site visit: 30 November 2024

Registration fee (Registration includes a 1-year membership in the CESA, reception on 27 Nov and conference dinner on 28 Nov as well as catering for lunch and tea breaks).

Registration typeBy 15 October 2024 (Early bird)15 October- 15 November 2024
Individual with post-conference business site visitAUD650AUD700
Individual without post-conference business site visitAUD500AUD550
Student and special rates with post-conference business site visitAUD350AUD400
Student and special rates without post-conference business site visitAUD200AUD250
CompanionAUD200AUD250

Conference enquiries: Prof Shane Zhang (shane.zhang@unisa.edu.au)

Paper abstract submissions: cesa2024adelaide@gmail.com

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The 33rd CESA Annual Conference, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia, 27-28 November 2023

The 33rd Annual Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA)

27 – 28 November 2023

China and the global economy in the post COVID world

Call for papers

China presents a myriad of significant changes and new opportunities. Its increasing global influence ensures that the state of the Chinese economy and its economic, public and social policies continue to have a substantial impact on trade, investment, social developments, and global economic growth.

The 33rd Annual CESA Conference, organised by Macquarie Business School at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, cordially invites research contributions on the Chinese economy and its wider impacts and implications. We welcome both theoretical and empirical studies that employ diverse research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. While we encourage submissions on the conference topics below, we also welcome papers that explore other aspects related to the main theme of the conference.

Conference Themes

The impact of COVID-19 on the Chinese economy

Macroeconomic dynamics and policy responses

Innovation and productivity

Demographic challenges in China

The role of financial market in the economy and the evaluation of financial market reforms

Income and wealth inequality

Social development and policies in China

Energy transition, Environment issues and climate change policies in China

Kindly note that the above topics serve as a guide and are not exhaustive.

We look forward to receiving your high-quality submissions. Accepted papers will be presented at the conference, providing an excellent opportunity to share your research insights and engage in fruitful discussions with fellow scholars.

Interested contributors should submit a full paper or an abstract (in PDF file) by Friday 18 August 2023. The organising committee will select the conference papers based on originality, analytical rigor, and policy relevance and will contact the authors whose papers have been selected by Thursday 31 August 2023.

Local Organising Committee

Associate Professor Zhiming Cheng

Professor Pundarik Mukhopadhaya

Associate Professor Ben Wang

Macquarie Business School

Macquarie University

Contact Us

Paper submission and conference enquiries: submission.cesa2023@gmail.com

Other enquiries:

Associate Professor Ben Wang E: ben.wang@mq.edu.au P: +61 2 9850 8500

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The 32nd CESA Annual Conference, ANU, Canberra, Australia, 22-23 November 2022

The 32nd Annual Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) – Call for Papers

Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, Canberra, November 22-23 2022 (deferred from July 2020 due to the impact of the pandemic).

This is a hybrid event with attendance through both in-person mode and online mode.

 China’s economic growth is faced with both headwinds and great potentials. As China continues to grow in economic size and impact, and is projected to become a high-income country by 2023, what happens in China such as changes in government policies, firm performances, new technologies, new products, and innovation increasingly matter for the global economy. This naturally creates new expectations, tensions as well as opportunities. What will be the paths that the Chinese economy will take post the COVID-19 pandemic? How will Chinese firms grow further in the international market? What policies will deliver welfare improvement for both the Chinese people and people in other countries? What are key determinants of sustainable growth in both China and the world economy? A lot is at stake, and therefore in-depth and open discussions and research are very much needed.

Against this background, the Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) attracts participants worldwide to address major economic issues facing China, as well as their global impacts. The 32nd annual CESA meeting is organised by the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy of the Australian National University in Canberra.

The theme of the forthcoming conference is “China and the World Economy: Common challenges and shared opportunities”. Possible topics include (but are not restricted to):

  • The competitiveness of the Chinese Economy
  • Innovation and productivity growth in China
  • China’s financial sector reform and financial market development
  • Demographic challenges in China
  • Impact of China’s economic rebalancing on the rest of the world
  • Rural and urban growth in China
  • Trade, competition or industrial policies in China
  • Income and wealth inequality
  • The macro-economy of China and policies such as macro-prudential policies
  • Environment issues in China
  • Energy transition and climate change policies in China
  • The impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on China and the world
  • Papers that do not fit into these categories, but that are related to the main theme of the conference, are also welcome.

Interested contributors should submit a drafted paper or an abstract (in PDF file) by September 16 2022. The organizing committee will select the conference papers based on originality, analytical rigor, and policy relevance and will contact the authors whose papers have been selected by September 30 2022.

Two special issues covering different themes will be published in Asia-Pacific Economic Literature and China Economic Journal.

Paper submission and conference enquiries: cesaconference2002@gmail.com

Other enquiries: Dr. Yixiao Zhou, yixiao.zhou@anu.edu.au, +61 2 6125 9216

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The 32nd CESA Annual Conference, ANU, Canberra, Australia, 13-14 July 2020 (deferred to 22-23 November 2020)

The 32nd Annual Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) – Call for Papers

Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, Canberra, July 13-14 2020

China’s economic growth is faced with both headwinds and great potentials. As China continues to grow in economic size and impact, and is projected to become a high-income country by 2025, what happens in China such as changes in government policies, firm performances, new technologies, new products and innovation increasingly matter for the global economy. This naturally creates new expectations, tensions as well as opportunities. What will be the paths that the Chinese economy will take to further integrate with the world economy? How will Chinese firms grow further in the international market?  What policies will deliver welfare improvement for both the Chinese people and people in other countries? What are key determinants of sustainable growth in both China and the world economy? A lot is at stake, and therefore in-depth and open discussions and research are very much needed.

Against this background, the Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) attracts participants worldwide to address major economic issues facing China, as well as and their global impacts. The 32nd annual CESA meeting is organised by Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy of the Australian National University in Canberra. Prof. Cai Fang of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Prof. Yiping Huang of Peking University will present keynote speeches at the conference.

The theme of the forthcoming conference is “China and the World Economy: Common challenges and shared opportunities”. Possible topics include (but not restricted to):

  • The competitiveness of the Chinese Economy
  • Innovation and productivity growth in China
  • China’s financial sector reform and financial market development
  • Demographic challenges in China
  • Impact of China’s economic rebalancing on the rest of the world
  • Rural and urban growth in China
  • Trade, competition or industrial policies in China
  • Income and wealth inequality
  • The macro-economy of China and policies such as macro-prudential policies
  • Environment issues in China
  • Energy transition and climate change policies in China

Papers that do not fit into these categories, but that are related to the main theme of the conference, are also welcome.

Interested contributors should submit a drafted paper or an abstract (in PDF file) by March 20th, 2020. The organization committee will select the conference papers based on originality, analytical rigor, and policy relevance and will contact the authors whose papers have been selected by April 6th, 2020.  The standard registration fee for the conference is AUD400, and the student discount registration fee is AUD200. Further details will be provided once paper acceptance is completed.

Three special issues covering different themes will be published in Asia-Pacific Economic Literature, Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, and China Economic Journal.

The special issue in Asia-Pacific Economic Literature covers topics including climate change, energy and resource economics and policies, agricultural economics and policies, and other sectoral analyses such as research that focuses on manufacturing or service sectors.

The special issue in Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies cover topics including income distribution and policies, human capital, health economics and policies, and inclusive development and growth.

The special issue in China Economic Journal covers topics including macroeconomics and financial economics, Fintech, technological change, digital challenges, international trade and capital flow.

Paper submission and conference enquiries: CESA2020Australia@gmail.com

Other enquiries: Dr. Yixiao Zhou, (yixiao.zhou@anu.edu.au, +61 2 6125 9216).

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Jane Golley interviewed by Xinhua: Chinese economy shifting toward high-quality growth

Interview: Chinese economy shifting toward high-quality growth: Australian economist
Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-01 16:45:38|Editor: Li Xia

by Xinhua writers Bai Xu, Yue Dongxing and Pan Xiangyue

CANBERRA, March 1 (Xinhua) — The Chinese economy is shifting toward more sustainable and high-quality growth, Jane Golley, associate professor at the Australian National University and acting director of the Australian Center on China in the World, said.

Read more …

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The 31st CESA Annual Conference, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 15-16th July 2019

The 31st Annual Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) – Call for Papers

CDES, Department of Economics, Monash Business School, July 15-16 2019

As China settles into a lower growth trajectory, policy-makers now are searching for new sources of economic growth through different reforms. Will China resume rapid growth after the policy changes? What are the internal and global impacts of new policies in China?

The Conference of Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA) attracts participants worldwide to address major economic issues facing China, as well as and their global impacts. The 31st annual CESA meeting is jointly organised by the Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability (CDES), the Department of Economics and Monash Business School.

The theme of the forthcoming conference is The “New Normal Growth” and the Global Impact of Chinese Economy

Possible topics include (but not restricted to):

  • The competitiveness of the Chinese Economy
  • China’s financial sector reform and financial market development
  • Consumption as the engine of growth
  • Demographic challenges in China
  • Impact of China’s economic rebalancing on the rest of the world
  • Trade policies
  • Wealth inequality
  • Environment issues in China

Papers that do not fit into these categories, but that are related to the main theme of the conference, are also welcome.

Interested contributors should submit a drafted paper or an abstract (in PDF file) by April 1. The organization committee will select the conference papers based on originality, analytical rigor, and policy relevance and will contact the authors whose papers have been selected by April 12.

Paper submission and conference enquiries: CESA2019@monash.edu
Other enquiries: Dr. Qingyuan Du, qingyuan.du@monash.edu; +61 3 9903 4702

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ANU: New database tracks Chinese investment into Australia

The ANU today released the first public database tracking Chinese investment in Australia, which shows there has been $40.4 billion worth of investment over the past four years.

The data shows Chinese investment in Australia peaked in 2016 with $14.9 billion worth of transactions in the calendar year, followed by $8.9 billion in 2017.

Last year the mining sector accounted for the biggest proportion of Chinese investment making up just over half of total value of transactions, followed by Health Care and Social Assistance with 15.5 per cent.

Read more at: http://www.anu.edu.au/news/all-news/new-database-tracks-chinese-investment-into-australia

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