08 Jul 2025
The International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) successfully concluded The 4th International Workshop on the Chinese Development Model on July 4, 2025, jointly organized with IQS School of Management, Ramon Llull University. The event brought together 30+ scholars to explore China's economic transformation through interdisciplinary research, fostering meaningful dialogue between Eastern and Western academic traditions.
Professor Jorg Bley, Dean of IBSS, opened the workshop by highlighting the school's unique position as a triple-accredited institution with faculty from 25 countries. He emphasized how Suzhou's blend of heritage and innovation mirrors China's development paradoxes, setting the stage for discussions that would bridge theoretical research with real-world policy challenges.
Subsequently, in his keynote speech titled Interbank Network and Market Resilience, Professor Xuezhong (Tony) He from IBSS examined the critical role of interconnected banking systems in financial stability. He highlighted how risk-sharing among banks can enhance resilience but warned of the destabilizing effects of "free-riding" behavior, where banks under-invest in reserves while relying on network support. Professor He's research identified an optimal network size where risk-sharing benefits peak before free-riding dominates, offering policymakers insights to balance financial innovation with systemic stability. His analysis underscored the need for tailored regulatory approaches to mitigate contagion risks in increasingly complex financial networks.
The workshop featured 10 papers for presentation and discussion, spanning financial system resilience, green growth strategies, demographic challenges, and sustainable business models. These joint research efforts yielded new initiatives on pressing issues like aging societies and green fintech, demonstrating the global relevance of China's development experience. A particular highlight was Dr Shang Jiang from Nottingham Trent University receiving the Best Paper Award for "Macroprudential Regulations and Greenwashing: A Novel Endogenous Growth Theory and Empirical Evidence." The study was praised by the scientific committee for its groundbreaking framework addressing the critical policy dilemma of promoting real innovation while mitigating greenwashing and maintaining financial stability.
In his closing remarks, Professor Flavio Comim from Ramon Llull University's IQS School of Management reflected on the day's productive exchanges: "These rare opportunities for cross-disciplinary dialogue are exactly what make workshops like this so valuable." He extended special thanks to IBSS for hosting and commended all participants for maintaining energetic engagement through the final sessions.
As a research-led business school, IBSS continues to drive research at the intersection of Chinese development and global challenges through academic excellence and global partnerships.
08 Jul 2025