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！