Q: Who will fund CCIEE? Is there a danger the center will become a mouthpiece for its sponsors?

A: The CCIEE operates on a different basis from government-funded domestic institutions or foreign counterparts that are sponsored by private capital; for example, the Brookings Institution gets more than 70 million dollars annually from the Rockefeller family. The central government provided us with a minimal initial fund of 5 million yuan, so the center set up a Funding Board to raise money. So far, more than 20 state-owned enterprises have come forward with support. The center is also planning to seek funds from privately-owned enterprises and multinational companies. Diversity of funding sources will guarantee the independence of the CCIEE and ensure none of our cross-regional and cross-professional sponsors will be able to impact our research results. The center aims to work entirely on market principles, with funding of 500 million yuan from all sources, excluding the government.

Q: Most members of the CCIEE are former officials. Won't that result in a rather loose organization?

A: CCIEE researchers can be divided into three groups – full-time staff selected from the thousands of highly-educated people who respond to our online recruitment campaign; senior researchers, including former officials, who work as full-time consultants; and researchers employed on temporary contracts on a project-by-project basis.

The CCIEE has been busy over the past three months, conducting economic research, building international cooperation links, and establishing information services, with all staff and members working very hard. The center arranges a weekly discussion on hot economic topics, sends economic reports to the central government, and publishes material such as the magazine Think Tank Talks. The CCIEE has delivered more than 10 research reports, including reports on a green recovery program and export expansion strategies that were of particularly interest to the central government.

The CCIEE will make its international debut as host of the Global Think Tank Summit. The CCIEE council is expecting a lively discussion with other world-famous think tanks on the future of the global financial crisis, and on ways to facilitate the recovery of world economy. It promises to be a perfect debut on the international stage for a top Chinese think tank.

Q: How do Chinese and foreign think tanks differ?

A: There are about 6, 000 think tanks worldwide, of which about 1, 800 are based in the U.S. The "revolving door" is a concept that describes the phenomenon in U.S. think tanks where members cycle between roles as researchers and as government officials. The system allows the government to maintain dynamic links with think tanks that help train and provide qualified personnel. As a result, think tanks in developed countries have become a powerful force in political, commercial and academic circles, and have a direct impact on policy-making and public opinion. Many US policies are first proposed by think tanks; then, after discussions in the media and congressional hearings, the proposals are finally accepted by the government.

Think tanks also play an important role in foreign affairs. For example, many researchers from the Brookings Institution are former United States ambassadors, and can continue to help build international networks and cooperation. China, however, has neglected such non-governmental communication channels for many years, and is now in desperate need of a new approach to improving public relations to help it build a greater voice in the international community.

Q: What is the ideal future of the CCIEE?

A: From my personal point of view, I would like to see the CCIEE become one of the top global think tanks and a pioneer in Chinese think tank construction. To combat the financial crisis, we not only need cooperation between governments but also cooperation between global think tanks. That's why the first Global Think Tank Summit has the theme of "sharing wisdom and pursuing global development." We think this is the responsibility of think tanks worldwide.

(China.org.cn translated by Li Xiao, June 24, 2009)