The politics of reform in China topic at Baker Institute March 24

The politics of reform in China and the country’s global dreams will be the topic of a March 24 panel discussion at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Recent economic policies by China's leaders suggest Beijing is increasingly concerned about inflation, a slowing of economic growth and increasing local government debt, according to event organizers.

The event will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Baker Hall’s Kelly International Conference Facility. It is co-sponsored by the institute’s China Studies Program and Rice’s Chao Center for Asian Studies.

The panelists will be Carrie Liu Currier, associate professor of political science and director of the Asian Studies Program at Texas Christian University; Aynne Kokas, fellow in Chinese media at the Baker Institute and sustainability postdoctoral fellow at the Chao Center for Asian Studies; and Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow at the Baker Institute.

Recent economic policies by China’s leaders suggest Beijing is increasingly concerned about inflation, a slowing of economic growth and increasing local government debt, according to event organizers. In addition, incidences of terrorism, corruption and changes in the one-child policy suggest that domestic politics and economics will preoccupy China at least in the near future, leaving little room to explore what new Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping calls “China’s Dream,” organizers said. At this event, three China experts will assess recent political reforms and economic policies and share their thoughts on China’s interest in — and ability to pursue — global dreams.

For more information, visit http://bakerinstitute.org/events/1638.