The Seminar of Local Government Debt Risk Management and Institutional Reform Was Held in Hangzhou

On April 15, 2023, the “Seminar of Local Government Debt Risk Management and Institutional Reform” jointly organized by the Government Debt Research and Evaluation Center of the Ministry of Finance, the China Institute of Public Finance of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and the Local Finance Research Institute of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics was held in Hangzhou. Professor Zhong Xiaomin, the Principal of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics and Ms. Liu Lei, the Deputy Director of the Government Debt Research and Evaluation Center of the Ministry of Finance, attended this seminar and made a speech.

The meeting in the morning was presided over by Director Si Yanwu from Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, and Professor Fu Wenlin from the Local Finance Research Institute of Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Professor Liu Rong from the School of Politics and Taxation of Southwest University of Finance and Economics, Associate Professor Zhang Muyang from the China Institute of Public Finance of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and Professor Mao Jie from the School of International Trade and Economics of University of International Business and Economics shared with the attending guests on four themes, including the “Return to Original Intention of Fiscal Functions: Thoughts on Structural Optimization of Local Debts”, the “Issues of Investment Efficiency and Fund Allocation Optimization of Special-purpose Bonds under the Background of Growth Stabilization”, the “Risk Measurement and Preventing Strategy of Hidden Local Government Debts” and the “Policy Guidance and Development of State-owned Enterprises” respectively. Professor Cong Shuhai, the Chairman of Academic Committee of the China Institute of Public Finance of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, elaborated on the difficulties and reform paths of local government debt management.

In the afternoon, five representatives from provincial finance departments across China introduced the work situation of local government debt management respectively by integrating their local work reality, and proposed many personal opinions on improvement of the management and supervision model of local government debt. Later, Professor Ma Entao from Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Associate Professor Gao Lin and Researcher Yu Lisheng from Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Associate Professor Zhong Huiyong from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, etc. as well as other attending guests expressed their various opinions on the issue of local government debt risk management and institutional reform. Lastly, Professor Liu Xiaochuan, the Executive Director of the China Institute of Public Finance of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, made summary speech of this meeting.