CHENGDU, May 19 – The first-ever Camphor Digital Consumption Forum, co-organized by the Camphor Economist Circle (CEC) and the School of Economics at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), was held smoothly on the university's Liulin campus.
Professor Wang Qing, Vice President of SWUFE, Professor Sheng Bin, Vice President of Nankai University, Professor Yi Xingjian, Vice President of Guangdong University of Finance, Associate Professor Huang Wei from Peking University, a Boya Young Scholar and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of 'Economic Quarterly', as well as editors and chief editors from 21 prominent economic journals graced the event. Over 120 scholars, experts, and students from esteemed institutions like Peking University, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, Nankai University, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Central University of Finance and Economics participated in the forum. Wang Qing and Huang Wei delivered opening addresses.
Welcoming the attendees, Wang Qing stressed the importance of high-quality consumption growth in facilitating China's modernization and sustainable socioeconomic development. The forum, themed around digital consumption, explored how the digital economy can integrate domestic and foreign trade and invigorate the dual-circulation strategy, holding both theoretical and practical implications. Wang Qing expressed hope for continued collaboration with academic and industry partners in deepening research on digital economy and consumer economics, fostering new frontiers, and accelerating the construction of China's indigenous knowledge system for consumer economics to serve the country's modernization.
Huang Wei remarked that the forum provides a platform for intellectual exchange and innovation, echoing the CEC's dedication to academic debate, authenticity, and in-depth study, thereby significantly contributing to scholarly communication and progress.
Following the opening ceremony, keynote speeches were presented by Sheng Bin, Yi Xingjian, Professor Zhang Xun from Beijing Normal University's School of Statistics, and Cui Shufeng from Cainiao Group's Legal and Compliance Department, covering topics ranging from cross-border data flow to digital trade regulations, untapped potential in China's consumption pattern under the new development paradigm, welfare effects of digital economic development, and Cainiao's smart logistics innovation in cross-border e-commerce.
Afternoon parallel sessions delved into discussions on digital consumption, digital trade, e-commerce, platforms, finance, gig economy, employment, and information.
A special "Journal Meetup" session, moderated by Professor Ding Renzhong, Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of 'The Economist', featured in-depth exchanges between journal representatives and participants on publication history, editorial focus, submission topics, review procedures, common submission pitfalls, and advice for contributors.
The event underscores the commitment of SWUFE and its partners to advancing the discourse on digital transformation and its impact on consumer behavior, reflecting the dynamic interface between academia and real-world applications in China's evolving digital economy.
