CCAP Celebrates 30th Anniversary: Looking back and Looking Ahead

Release date：2025/10/21　　Source：

On the morning of October 18, 2025, the “CCAP 30^th Anniversary: Looking Back, Looking Ahead”conference—one of the key events in the 30^th anniversary series of  China Center for Agricultural Policy (CCAP)—was successfully held at the Yingjie Exchange Center of Peking University. Prior to the conference, Academician  Qihuang Gong, President of Peking University, met with distinguished guests. More than 350 participants, including domestic and international guests and alumni, attended the event.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Professor Chengfang Liu, Associate Dean of the School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, Peking University and Deputy Director of CCAP.

During the ceremony:

• Academician Jin Zhang, Executive Vice President of Peking University, expressed the hope that CCAP would continue to uphold the philosophy of “diligence and rigor in scholarship, dedicated research for the benefit of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers”, and contribute further to China's goal of becoming an agricultural powerhouse and to global agricultural and rural development.

• Mr.  Xiwen Chen, former Director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, affirmed that CCAP had played a vital role in promoting China’s rural reform and development.

• Mr. YingDu, former Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, praised CCAP for its deep sense of national commitment.

• Professor Justin Yifu Lin, Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, encouraged CCAP to share its innovations and experiences in agricultural and rural development with the world.

• Professor Michiel A. Keyzer, Professor Emeritus at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and former member of CCAP’s Academic Committee, called on the academic community to address global challenges through international cooperation.

• Professor Scott Rozelle of Stanford University, Chair of CCAP's Academic Committee, highlighted CCAP's remarkable achievements in talent cultivation.

• Academician Fusuo  Zhang of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at China Agricultural University, commended CCAP for its distinctive strengths in aligning research with policy needs, conducting field investigations, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Professor Xinkai Zhu, Executive Vice President of Renmin University of China, stated that CCAP fully deserves the titles “the benchmark of agricultural economics research in China” and “the Huangpu Military Academy of agricultural economics.”

• Professor Huanguang Qiu, Vice President of Liaoning University and a 2005 CCAP Ph.D. graduate, urged young scholars to carry forward the spirit of diligence.

• Ms. Yaxuan You, a 2023 CCAP Ph.D. student, expressed gratitude for the academic nourishment provided by CCAP.

Following the opening ceremony, Professor Jikun Huang, Dean of the School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences,  Peking University and Honorary Director of CCAP, delivered a keynote speech titled “My Thirty Years with CCAP: From Creation, to Growth, to Innovation.”

Professor Huang reviewed CCAP’s three-decade journey:

• Its founding stage (1995–2000) within the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS),

• Its development stage (2000–2015) within the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and

• Its transformation stage (2015–present) within Peking University (PKU).

He emphasized CCAP's long-standing commitment to institutional innovation, pragmatic research, collaborative innovation, talent development, and think tank building. CCAP has published numerous high-quality papers in leading international journals, ranked first in Asia for nine consecutive years, and submitted a series of policy reports to the Central Committee and relevant ministries.

Looking ahead, Professor Huang stated that CCAP will continue to advance the development of a world-class discipline in agricultural economics and management, build a hub for talent cultivation, and strengthen its role as a leading think tank for agricultural and rural development, contributing wisdom and solutions to China’s rural revitalization strategy and global agricultural progress.

The roundtable session, moderated by Professor Jinxia Wang, Director of CCAP, brought together four professors who had participated in the founding and witnessed the evolution of the Center:

• Professor Jikun Huang, Founding Director of CCAP;

• Professor Linxiu Zhang, former Deputy Director of CCAP and current Director of the International Ecosystem Management Partnership of the United Nations Environment Programme;

• Professor Scott Rozelle, Stanford University; and

• Professor Jintao Xu, former Deputy Director of CCAP and current Professor at the National School of Development, Peking University.

The discussion covered four themes:

1. “Taking Root and Setting Sail” during CCAP’s early years at CAAS;

2. “Building Momentum and Rising” during its time at CAS;

3. “Expanding Frontiers” during its transformation at PKU; and

4. Outlook for the Future.

The panelists shared vivid reflections on CCAP's institutional innovation, talent development, and funding strategies during its formative years; the motivations and outcomes behind joining CAS in 2000; the interdisciplinary research and international collaboration that followed; and the transformative journey since joining PKU, with a focus on addressing major national and global issues, establishing doctoral programs in agricultural and forestry economics and management, and nurturing globally minded young scholars.

They unanimously agreed that, moving forward, CCAP should further deepen cross-disciplinary cooperation, enhance international exchanges, and serve national strategies, contributing “Peking University wisdom” to sustainable agricultural and rural development in China and worldwide.

Building on three decades of fruitful achievements and valuable experience, the conference forged a shared vision for CCAP's future. As it embarks on a new journey, CCAP remains committed to advancing China's agricultural and rural modernization and addressing global agricultural challenges with intelligence and dedication.