In October 2001, with the great attention and support of state leaders, as well as relevant state ministries and commissions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, State Economic and Trade Commission, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Personnel and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, China APEC Academy (CAA) aiming at providing consultation to Chinese leaders' and ministries and commissions' attendance of APEC, providing policy and industry consultation for China's involvement in the APEC process, and strengthening human capacity building in China, was solemnly announced by the Chinese government and will be established as one of the major achievements of "APEC China Year" at the 2001 APEC Shanghai Summit. The Ministry of Education issued the document on October 15, 2001, approving the establishment of the academy and the council. Mr. Zhang Lijun, ABAC China Representative and President of Nankai University are chairman of the council and the president of the academy respectively.

On April 26, 2002, China APEC Academy and China APEC Academy Council were officially established at an inaugural ceremony held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Vice Premier Qian Qichen attended and addressed the ceremony. Leaders of relevant ministries and commissions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, State Economic and Trade Commission, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Personnel, General Administration of Press and Publication, System Reform Office of the State Council, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and National Copyright Administration, as well as representatives from Nankai University and APEC China Enterprise Assembly were also present at the ceremony.

In October 2002, China President Jiang Zemin pointed out in the section entitled accomplishing the stability and growth of the global and local economies is an important task of ours in his keynote address at the 10th APEC Economic Leaders'  Meeting in Mexico, "Strengthening cooperation in such fields as capacity building, development of human resources and finance is helpful to sharpening the developing members'  global competitiveness. Therefore, China has put forward proposals such as the APEC financial and development program and the human capacity building program. With the active involvement and support of other member economies, these programs have achieved substantial progress. We've established China APEC Academy specialized in researches on Asia-Pacific cooperation and providing training for entrepreneurs. China is willing to continue strengthening exchanges and cooperation with other member economies in these fields." This redefined China APEC Academy's important role in actively promoting the APEC process in China.

In order to further implement the principles of the combination of government, business and academia, promote the liberalization and facilitation of APEC trade investment as well as the process of economic and technical cooperation, further drive the Chinese enterprise circles and academic circles to actively take part in the APEC cooperation, and run China APEC Academy smoothly, China APEC Academy Council (CAAC) was officially identified as China APEC Development Council (CADC)(2004) with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2004 to become an ad hoc work institution intended for promoting China's involvement in the APEC process under the mechanism of combination of government, business and academia.

Over the years, under the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CADC has established a fast, efficient and scientific mechanism for coordination and cooperation among the government, enterprises and academic institutions by establishing relationship with enterprises and institutions, government departments and all social circles to meet the need of China's active and extensive involvement in the APEC process. With support of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, Ministry of Personnel and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, CADC has practiced the operation system for the partnership of government, business, academic and education institutions in order to promote the involvement of the Chinese government, enterprise circles and academic circles in the APEC process, and to create a new situation for APEC operation in China.

Established in Nankai University, China APEC Academy is a teaching, scientific research and policy consultation institution providing consultation for China's involvement in various APEC events and meetings, training senior talents for relevant domestic and foreign departments, and engaging in the promotion of the academic exchanges and cooperation among member economies of APEC.

In the process of implementing the principle of combination of the government, business and academia, CADC has absorbed the enterprises willing to take part in and promote the APEC process in China and to make active contributions to APEC as standing members, for the development of APEC.
 

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