China’s political reforms, economy in focus at Rice’s Baker Institute Nov. 6

MEDIA ADVISORY

Jeff Falk
jfalk@rice.edu
713-348-6775

China’s political reforms, economy in focus at Rice’s Baker Institute Nov. 6

HOUSTON – (Nov. 2, 2017) – A panel of experts will discuss the state of China’s political reforms and economy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Nov. 6.

The Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Credit: Shutterstock.com/Rice University

The discussion comes just weeks after the Chinese Communist Party’s historic 19th Party Congress convened the week of Oct. 18 and announced the party’s leadership and agenda for the next five years.

Hosted by the Baker Institute’s China Studies Program, the event is free and open to the public but registration is required.

Who: Panelists Wenhong Chen, associate professor, Department of Radio-Film-Television, the University of Texas at Austin; Carrie Liu Currier, associate professor of political science and director of Asian studies, Texas Christian University; Hans Stockton, the Cullen Trust for Higher Education/Fayez Sarofim Chair in International Studies, associate dean, School of Arts and Sciences, and director, Center for International Studies, University of St. Thomas; and Jon Taylor, professor and chair, Department of Political Science, University of St. Thomas.

Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow at the Baker Institute, will serve as moderator.

What: A panel discussion titled “Political Reform in China.”

When: Monday, Nov. 6, 4-6 p.m.

Where: Rice University, Baker Hall, Kelly International Conference Facility, 6100 Main St.

Questions remain about China’s future direction, according to event organizers. Will General Secretary Xi Jinping follow the tradition of the last 30 years and pick a successor who will replace him in 2022, or will he use the party meetings this year and next to change the constitution and solidify his leadership, in the style of Vladimir Putin? At the same time, China is facing an economic slowdown that has caused some to wonder if Communist Party leaders will scale down their anti-corruption campaign to focus on stimulating economic development, organizers said.

The public must RSVP for the event at www.bakerinstitute.org/events/1906. A live webcast will be available at the event page.

Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.

For a map of Rice University’s campus with parking information, go to www.rice.edu/maps. Media are advised to park in the Central Campus Garage.

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Founded in 1993, Rice University’s Baker Institute ranks among the top five university-affiliated think tanks in the world. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute conducts research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. The institute’s strong track record of achievement reflects the work of its endowed fellows, Rice University faculty scholars and staff, coupled with its outreach to the Rice student body through fellow-taught classes — including a public policy course — and student leadership and internship programs. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.