IBSS Leads Debate on Asian Pacific Economies

SUZHOU, China, May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) concluded its second annual international seminar on Asia and Pacific Economies, hosted at its campus in the financial and manufacturing hub of Suzhou, China, from 9^th – 10^th May, 2014.

Professor Sarah Dixon, Dean of IBSS, opened the event by welcoming everyone to XJTLU and providing the guests with some background into the University and its unique Business School. "Even though we're a new institution we're beginning to build history: economics history," Professor Dixon explained. "These seminars and workshops help us build our strength in research and this, in turn, helps with our mission to become one of the top business schools worldwide and to contribute to society through our education, research and business engagement."

Following on from Professor Dixon's welcome speech, Dr. Nimesh Salike, IBSS Lecturer and Head of Economics Group, invited the visiting scholars and members of the business community to discuss key economic issues affecting the Asia Pacific region today such as Financial Policy, Theoretical Modelling, Trade and Foreign Direct Investment and Social Welfare.

More than eleven academic papers were presented on the first day including presentations from professors from the University of Liverpool (UoL) and the University of Sheffield in the UK, the National University of Singapore, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China.

The second day began with a discussion on the issues of Asia Pacific Economies from a specifically Chinese standpoint, chaired by IBSS Associate Professor, Ronald Schramm. Together with colleagues from the Dongbei University of Finance and Economics and UoL, the group covered issues ranging from cooperative behaviour in Rural China, to a comparison of links between innovative ecosystems and industry-academia collaboration between the UK and China.

Professor Schramm explained how "too much of the news media coverage relates to disputes in the Asia Pacific community. In this forum we get a real time analysis of what is happening and will happen on the ground from some of the world's top academic scholars on Asia Pacific cooperation and integration"

The afternoon saw a shift in focus from domestic issues, to an investigation of broader global, macro-economic issues. Dr. Salike chaired a discussion on economics in International Studies with professors from the University of Tsukuba and the International Christian University of Japan who presented papers on territorial disputes and trade and diplomacy.

Dr. Paulo Regis, co-organiser of the seminar and IBSS Associate Professor, concluded the seminars with an investigation into Financial Regulation with Peter Morgan from the Asian Development Bank Institute in Japan, and a discussion on Further Empirical Evidence on Loss Aversion together with Dr. Jie Zhang, Lecture of Accounting and Finance at IBSS.

Speaking after the event, Dr. Regis said "this is the second of what we expect to be a regular event at IBSS. The international seminar is a continuation of our efforts to create a research centre in the themes of international economics, integration in the Asia Pacific region and the challenges ahead for the Chinese Economy. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds, from a wide range of institutions and countries. This provides a really good opportunity to explore the possibility of research collaboration. Likewise, colleagues from the University of Liverpool Management School join us to present their research, something that should be encouraged as much as possible at XJTLU."

About XJTLU:

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is an international university jointly founded by leading institutions from both China and the UK. As an independent Sino-British venture, XJTLU is a pioneer in the field of higher education in mainland China. The campus is located in the picturesque city of Suzhou on China's Eastern seaboard, which boasts the fourth largest concentration of GDP in China, and as such offers a unique environment in which to study, live and thrive. In addition to our many local students and staff, XJTLU is rapidly developing its cosmopolitan image and global academic potential by recruiting students and professors from all over the world.

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SOURCE Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University