General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes that investigation and research are the basis for doing things and the way to accomplish things. Without investigation, there is no right for speaking and decision-making. At the same time, correct decision-making and implementation also rely on research. Investigation and research are the bases for knowledge and work. Therefore, we need to promote such culture in the whole Party. On April 18, CUEB held a symposium about constructing the discipline of theoretical economics in Conference Room No.7 of Bona Building. Chen Yanbin, Member of the Standing Committee of the CUEB Party Committee and Vice President, carried out in-depth research on key issues of discipline development.

Chen Yanbin proposed four standards for discipline construction. First, discipline construction should be supported by personnel cultivation and research achievements. Second, improve discipline construction with advanced research outputs. Third, cultivate representative discipline leaders to consolidate the advantages of discipline development with mentor-led research teams. Fourth, be committed to building Chinese independent discipline knowledge system of philosophy and social sciences. Chen further emphasized that discipline construction in CUEB is at a critical transition stage from quantity to quality, and from width to depth.

Chen raised three questions on how to promote high-quality discipline construction of Theoretical Economics at CUEB. First, what are the difficulties and bottlenecks in current discipline development? Second, how can we focus on the characteristics of sub-disciplines? Third, what are the foothold and methods for advancing high-quality development? Focusing on these three questions, the two college leaders and heads of various sub-disciplines at the symposium analyzed main issues in the current discipline construction of Theoretical Economics, including research team building, graduate student enrollment, theoretical research achievements, and research funding support.

In response to relevant issues in building the discipline, Chen Yanbin gave answers based on his work experience and emphasized two efforts for future discipline construction. First, we should concentrate on significant social demands. In the new era, we should have a bigger picture to clarify the characteristics and advantages of Theoretical Economics sub-disciplines and achieve key breakthroughs. Second, we should concentrate on advanced research outputs. Discipline development aims to make social contributions through high-quality academic papers, policy advisory reports, data services, etc. We will enhance the discipline influence through academic exchanges and ultimately achieve a leapfrog development.

This symposium was presided over by Zhao Jiazhang, Deputy Dean of the School of Economics. Members attending the symposium were Feng Xiliang, Dean of the School of Labor Economics, Du Wencui, Deputy Dean of the School of Economics, and Tong Yufen, Wang Shaoguo, Xu Zerong, Li Jing, Xiao Zhouyan,  heads of each sub-discipline of Theoretical Economics, and so on. Wang Jun, Minister of the Party Committee Graduate Affairs Department and Dean of the Graduate School, Jiang Hong and Zhang Jie, Deputy Deans of the Graduate School, Fan Qingquan, Dean Assistant, and the staff from the Office of Discipline and Degree Development of the Graduate School also participated in this symposium.