On the morning of November 5, 2022, the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Peking University–Lincoln Institute Center for Urban Development and Land Policy (PKU-Lincoln Center) was successfully held at the Yingjie Exchange Center of Peking University. The event adopted a hybrid online-offline format with live streaming in both Chinese and English throughout the whole process.
Fifteen years ago, on October 9, 2007, after multiple rounds of friendly consultations, Peking University and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy reached a consensus to jointly establish the PKU-Lincoln Center. The establishment was motivated by the rapid urbanization in China — a topic attracting extensive academic attention involving urban development, real estate economics, land policies and other critical national development issues fraught with diverse challenges. Supported by robust funding and the operational model of the Lincoln Institute, and drawing on Peking University’s comprehensive disciplinary strengths and stable institutional resources, the PKU-Lincoln Center has steadily grown over the past fifteen years with the mission of serving and advancing China’s urbanization drive. It has evolved into an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional and transnational innovative research institution with an outstanding academic reputation.
The celebration brought together university leaders from Peking University, senior officials of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and distinguished guests representing all stages of the Center’s founding and development. The attendees included long-term collaborating scholars and experts, former staff and postdoctoral researchers, alumni, past recipients of the Center’s research grants and thesis scholarships, and participants of all previous training workshops.
The celebration consisted of five sessions: opening addresses, signing of a framework cooperation agreement, the Center Director’s keynote speech, guest remarks, and testimonials from faculty and student representatives.
Professor He Canfei, Dean of the School of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, presided over the ceremony. He extended a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to all attending leaders and guests, and reviewed the 15-year journey of the PKU-Lincoln Center. He noted that the anniversary celebration not only marks the Center’s 15th birthday, but also reviews a precious developmental chapter and presents remarkable intersections of the times.
Image: Professor He Canfei presides over the celebration
Opening Addresses
Academician Zhang Jin, Vice President of Peking University, delivered an opening speech to congratulate the PKU-Lincoln Center on its 15th anniversary. On behalf of Peking University, he expressed heartfelt thanks to the Lincoln Institute for years of consistent support and collaboration. He pointed out that the PKU-Lincoln Center focuses on China’s urbanization, adheres to the tenet of "rooted in Peking University, serving the whole nation", and aligns with Peking University’s development goals of responding to major national strategies and meeting socioeconomic demands. The Center has made unique contributions to Peking University’s Double First-Class Initiative and set an exemplary benchmark for universities and academic organizations nationwide. He wished the PKU-Lincoln Center to stay true to its original aspiration, forge ahead, and achieve greater progress.
Image: Academician Zhang Jin delivers an opening address
Dr. George McCarthy, President of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, stated that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center had successfully hosted numerous academic exchanges and seminars and continuously pushed forward talent cultivation. He looked forward to expanding the Center’s work framework, facilitating exchanges and dissemination of international experience, and elevating its global influence.
Image: Dr. George McCarthy delivers a speech
Katie Lincoln, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, sent congratulatory remarks via video. She extended sincere gratitude to Peking University for its support and fully recognized all work achievements of the PKU-Lincoln Center over the past fifteen years.
Image: Katie Lincoln delivers video congratulatory remarks
Ms. Zhou Manli from the Office of International Relations, Peking University, spoke on behalf of the university’s functional departments. She compared the Center’s growth to the development of a child, conveying sincere affection and earnest expectations for its future growth.
Image: Ms. Zhou Manli delivers a speech
Signing of the Framework Cooperation Agreement
Following the opening addresses, Academician Zhang Jin, Vice President of Peking University, and Dr. George McCarthy, President of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, jointly signed a framework agreement for continued cooperation.
Image: Signing ceremony of the framework cooperation agreement
Keynote Speech by the Center Director
Dr. Liu Zhi, Director of the Peking University–Lincoln Institute Center for Urban Development and Land Policy, presented a report summarizing the Center’s fifteen years of achievements. Founded in 2007, the Center’s core operations cover policy research, academic exchanges, research funding, academic scholarships, capacity building and research outreach. Centered on urbanization, the Center has carried out a series of research and academic activities in fields including property taxation and local public finance, land and housing policies, urban development and planning, environmental policies and ecological conservation. It strives to advance academic progress and support policy-making, acting as a cross-border platform for knowledge exchange between China and the world. Dr. Liu extended sincere thanks to domestic and overseas universities, government departments and research institutions that have partnered with the Center, all leaders caring for its development, experts, teachers and students who participated in its various activities, and all in-house staff.
Image: Dr. Liu Zhi delivers the Center Director’s keynote speech
Guest Remarks
Professor Lin Jianhua, Former President of Peking University, fully affirmed the PKU-Lincoln Center’s fifteen-year accomplishments. He suggested that China and the United States should maintain mutual trust and deepen cooperation in the new development stage, and encouraged the Center to build stronger confidence in the profound significance of its work for human development.
Image: Professor Lin Jianhua delivers a speech
Dr. Gregory K. Ingram, Former President of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, stated that the Center had fully fulfilled its founding mission. He expressed gratitude to President Lin Jianhua for supporting the Center’s establishment, Professors Many Yun, Liu Zhi and He Canfei for long-term oversight and guidance, and all Center staff for their diligent work, noting that he took great pride in the Center’s achievements.
Image: Dr. Gregory K. Ingram delivers a speech
Professor Li Yansong, President of Shanghai International Studies University and Former Vice President of Peking University, sent congratulatory remarks via video. He commented that the Center’s work merits thorough documentation and recognition as a fruitful outcome of sincere collaboration between Peking University and the Lincoln Institute.
Image: Professor Li Yansong delivers video remarks
Professor Many Yun, Former Director of the PKU-Lincoln Center, stated that the Center had yielded abundant achievements over fifteen years. She proposed that the Center should further contribute to addressing China’s practical challenges, sharing China’s academic voices and disseminating Chinese developmental experience.
Image: Professor Many Yun delivers a speech
Testimonials from Faculty and Student Representatives
Associate Professor Tong De, School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, shared a seventeen-year-long bond with the Center. Her connection began when she received a thesis scholarship from the Center, followed by supervising students applying for its research grants, and finally becoming a core research collaborator. She regarded the Center’s faculty as mentors and friends, and her colleagues as reliable partners in work and daily life.
Image: Associate Professor Tong De delivers a testimonial
Dr. Zhao Daxuan, Associate Professor of the Business School, Renmin University of China and past recipient of the PKU-Lincoln Center Research Grant, spoke highly of the Center’s inclusive atmosphere bringing together interdisciplinary scholars from home and abroad, from whom he had gained extensive insights. He also praised the Center’s sincerity in offering generous research grants and scholarships to young researchers and scholars from underdeveloped regions to support their academic pursuits.
Image: Dr. Zhao Daxuan delivers a testimonial
Ren Zhuoran, PhD student at the School of Urban and Environmental Sciences and a research participant of the PKU-Lincoln Center, shared her five years of learning experience supported by the Center. With the Center’s backing, she attended major academic forums and communicated with world-leading scholars, and participated in urban renewal projects in Guangdong Province to contribute to China’s urban development. She expressed gratitude for the Center’s cultivation and encouragement.
Image: PhD student Ren Zhuoran delivers a testimonial
At the close of the session, Professor He Canfei thanked all attendees and looked forward to witnessing the Center’s future progress. He invited everyone to follow a series of academic forums marking the Center’s 15th anniversary.
Image: Group photo of all on-site guests
Written by Xu Qingwen, Zhang Yifan
Photography & Screenshot Editing: Liu Zheng, Liu Jingyi
Revised by Liu Xiuying
Reviewed & Approved by Zhao Min
