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Shanghai Forum 2024
Age of Change: Technology, Development and Governance
Our era has never come to an end, and certainly our history will not come to an end neither. Technology has always been the force that changes the era, and it is still so today. Most of the progress in human history has been driven by technology. This is particularly true in the age of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence and related industries, sectors, and enterprises are gradually shaping a new life for humanity, at a time when mankind is either active or passive, with joy or awe. Human thinking is shifting from uncontrollable excitement to rational and stern thinking, regulation, and restraint—perhaps this is the difference between humans and artificial intelligence at the moment, and it is also where the confidence of humanity lies in the face of artificial intelligence.
Technological advancement does not necessarily lead to the development of human society. As the course of history progresses, humanity's understanding of development continues to deepen. Words such as improving people's well-being, inclusive growth, and sustainable practices appear more frequently in the descriptions of development. It is precisely these new definitions of development that have led to increased concerns among intellectuals about development—not so much about what it means and how it is conceived, but about how it can be shared by all. The rising inequality, security risks, climate change, and so on, all of which have become obstacles to human development. Development has unprecedentedly become a challenge in itself.
The counterpart to development is governance. The traditional governance system formed by the tension between the state, society, and individuals is loosening with the emergence of artificial intelligence. New governance ideologies are still brewing, new governance structures are still forming, and new governance models are still being explored. The inevitable challenges of humanity have arrived, testing not only capabilities and wisdom but also courage and perseverance. Whether it is globalization or de-globalization, unilateralism or multilateralism, is not only a test of the commitment of each country but also a test of human nature and humanity.
This is an era of rapid change that humanity has never experienced before, as if the journey from steam engine to generator has been completed in an instant. The unprecedented speed and change have brought uncertainty, in addition to joy, to all of humans. In the midst of this speed and change, the determination, resilience, and collaboration of human beings are constantly called for.
For nineteen years, with an academic soul and an inclusive mind, Shanghai Forum has always gathered global elites and condensed diverse thoughts. Under the theme of Age of Change: Technology, Development, and Governance, Shanghai Forum 2024 aims to deepen the common understanding of the forces of change from the perspectives of technological progress, sustainable development, and global governance through cross-field, interdisciplinary, and cross-industry dialogues, contributing wisdom to create a more inclusive and equitable future. We believe that in such a rapidly changing era, nothing is more important than the exchange of ideas, and nothing is more precious than the exchange of hearts, because we are confident that we can make good use of all the truths we have discovered, explore the path of common development, and form a community of shared future for individuals, families, and countries.
Application Instructions for the Host of Sub-forums
Shanghai Forum 2024 will be held on May 24-26, 2024. The application for sub-forums officially opens up to universities, think tanks, government institutions, NGOs, enterprises and media all over the world.
I: About Shanghai Forum
i. Introduction
Shanghai Forum, launched in 2005, is known as one of the most famous international forums in China. Co-hosted by Fudan University and Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, organized by Fudan Development Institute, the forum is a non-governmental and non-profit academic organization, which holds its annual conference in Shanghai. The forum is dedicated to “Focus on Asia, Explore Pressing Issues, Bring Together Leaders, Promote Interactions, Enhance Cooperation and Seek Consensus”. It endeavors to build an interactive platform for multi-sided communication amongst academic, political, commercial, and press circles, so as to seek consensus on important issues in Asia and China.
ii. Theme for 2024
Age of Change: Technology, Development and Governance
iii. Date: May 24-25, 2024
5.23 | 10:00-22:00 | Registration |
18:00-21:00 | Buffet | |
5.24 | 09:00-12:00 | Opening Ceremony |
13:30-17:00 | Sub-forums | |
18:30-21:00 | Opening Banquet | |
5.25 | 08:30-17:00 | Sub-forums |
18:30-20:30 | City Tour |
II: Application Requirements
i. Applicants qualification
Applicants should be persons in charge of research institutes, think tanks, government institutions, NGOs, enterprises and media, who are with significant academic or social resources and influence in relevant fields.
ii. Application Guide
1. Duration: The duration of each sub-forum is about 3.5 hours (i.e. half a day).
2. Form: The sub-forums are planned to be held offline.
3. Topic: The topic of the sub-forum needs to be closely integrated with the general theme “Age of Change: Technology, Development and Governance”, to focus on hot issues, and to conduct interdisciplinary and multi-angle discussions.
4. Chair: Each sub-forum will have one chair or two co-chairs.
5. Speakers: Speakers are expected to be influential in the relative fields. The institutions to which the guest speakers belong are encouraged to be diversified (e.g. universities, think tanks, enterprises, government institutions, NGOs or media, etc.). The speakers’ nationalities or where the speakers are based are also expected to be diversified.
Each sub-forum can invite no more than 10 speakers (including the Chair). Of which:
1) No more than 5 from outside of China
2) No more than 5 from China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), including 1-2 from Shanghai
iii. Expense:
1. The forum will provide:
(1) Venue of the sub-forum;
(2) Simultaneous interpretation;
(3) Conference materials, souvenirs, city tour;
(4) Accommodation and meals in designated hotels during the forum;
(5) Round-trip flight tickets or rail tickets between the speakers' departure point and Shanghai (Visa fees, taxi fares and any other costs are not included).
l Flight tickets:
The forum only covers the cost of round-trip flight tickets on economy class (excluding Premium Economy class and above). The forum provides agency service. Guest speakers can also purchase tickets by themselves and get reimbursed according to the price on the electronic itinerary. Please note that the guests must indemnify Shanghai Forum for the losses caused by changes or cancellation of flights due to their personal reasons once the flight tickets are issued by the airline.
Airfare reimbursement limit:
China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan): RMB 3000 (round trip);
Other regions of Asia: RMB 6000 (round trip);
The other regions: RMB 12000 (round trip)
l Railway tickets:
The forum only covers the cost of round-trip railway tickets on second class. The forum provides agency service. Guest speakers can also purchase tickets by themselves and get reimbursed after the forum. The original tickets, the payment document and a scan copy of the ID card/passport are needed for the reimbursement. Please note that the guests must indemnify Shanghai Forum for the losses caused by changes or cancellation of tickets due to their personal reasons.
iv. Priority will be given to those who could:
1. Publish research reports or policy advisory reports for the first time at Shanghai Forum.
2. Assist the organizing committee to invite keynote speakers for the opening ceremony, such as political dignitaries, leading scholars (i.e. Nobel laureates), renowned business leaders, etc.
3. Cover the costs associated with the sub-forum, or provide financial support for Shanghai Forum, etc.
4. Co-host the sub-forum with internationally renowned institutions
III: How to apply
The applicants need to download and fill out the Application Form for Shanghai Forum 2024 (
Annex 1 Applications forms of Shanghai Forum 2024.docx) and send it back to: shanghaiforum@fudan.edu.cnbefore January22, 2024.
Shanghai Forum Organizer: Fudan Development Institute
Address: Think Tank Building, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai, China
Contact Information: Ms. Zhang 86-21-65642354
Ms. Deng 86-21-55665281
E-mail：shanghaiforum@fudan.edu.cn
Website：www.shanghaiforum.fudan.edu.cn
Shanghai Forum Organizing Committee
January, 2024
