In review: CCG in 2024

Happy New Year!

As we usher in the new year of 2025, looking back on every moment of CCG's journey over the past year—every voice raised on major global and domestic issues, every effort in in-depth research and cross-sector collaboration—we see the continuous innovation and progress of Chinese think tanks.

The following review is an excerpted translation based on content published on CCG's official WeChat blog.

Research

Throughout the year, CCG completed 10 government-commissioned research projects, submitted 148 policy recommendations, and produced 10 internal reference briefs. Several of these recommendations received written instructions and feedback from top Chinese leaders and ministers.

In 2024, CCG released seven major publications, including 4 Chinese works, an Arabic book, and 3 English works: The Future of China's Development and Globalization: Views from Ambassadors to China, The Challenge of Going Out, and Enhancing Global Governance in a Fragmented World.

CCG also published 8 research reports, including Advancing Rural Homestead Land System Reform, The Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad (2023-2024), International Talent Mobility and Governance Report, Promoting China-U.S. Youth Exchanges: Implementing the "50,000 People in 5 Years" Vision, Sustainable Trade amid Global Climate Change 2024, Report on Chinese Enterprises Globalization: the TCL Case Study, How to Meet the Trump Era's Challenges & Opportunities, and World Migration Report 2024 (Chinese).

Activities

Over the year, CCG conducted 15 international visits, covering 34 cities in 22 countries across Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania, including the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan, among others.

As a partner of major global forums, CCG spearheaded global dialogues by setting agendas on key topics such as China's collaboration with the Global South and U.S.-China-Europe climate cooperation. Notable engagements included participating in the Munich Security Conference, where CCG advocated trilateral climate collaboration; presenting at the Doha Forum to highlight Global South issues; and co-hosting a U.S.-China think tank dialogue in Washington D.C., focusing on global governance and human security. At the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, CCG led discussions on trade policies and climate response, drawing wide international attention.

CCG also participated in influential platforms like the Paris Peace Forum, Athens Democracy Forum, and Aspen Security Forum. As the first Chinese think tank to appear at the Oxford Union, CCG delivered a keynote speech advocating multilateral cooperation among major powers. Following the EU elections, it attended the 28th Wachau European Forum in Austria as the sole Chinese speaker to discuss China-EU trade relations and participated in a seminar in Spain to explore Europe's unique role in multilateral diplomacy between the U.S. and China.

This year, CCG was also invited to Tashkent as an international observer for the elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Outreach

Throughout the year, CCG hosted over 50 visits from central ministries, Beijing municipal departments, and other government agencies. CCG also frequently engaged with central departments like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Publicity Department of the CPC, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Ministry of Commerce, along with several local governments.

Notable international visitors included the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister Tanja Fajon, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akçapar, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Umar Hadi, Danish State Secretary for Foreign Policy Lisbet Zilmer-Johns, Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs Diego Martínez Belío, Latvian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andžejs Viļumsons, and Finnish Under-Secretary of State for International Trade Jarno Syrjälä. During the official visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to China and in the days preceding and following the visit, CCG welcomed a senior delegation from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), representatives of the Körber Foundation, representatives from the Munich Security Conference (MSC) Foundation, and a delegation from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) Economic Forum.

Youth exchange was another key highlight of CCG's outreach in 2024. CCG, as the GYLD Secretariat, welcomed the delegation of young American politicians led by Joshua Eisenman, senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council; international students from Peking University's International Relations program and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) program; youth delegations from U.S. schools such as Sidwell Friends and Princeton University; student groups from renowned German universities; members of Global Bridges from Germany; and participants in the Saudi Misk Foundation's leadership program.

In 2024, CCG successfully hosted globally influential forums, including the China and Globalization Forum, the China Inbound-Outbound Forum, the China Global Think Tank Innovation Forum, and the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD) Annual Forum. At the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) and Hongqiao International Economic Forum, CCG organised a sub-forum, "Sustainable Trade amid Global Climate Change," becoming the only civil non-governmental organisation officially partnered with both CIIE and the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).

CCG launched 10 "CCG VIP luncheons" over 12 months, creating a high-profile platform for economic outreach and policy communication. In total, the series engaged 53 ambassadors and ministers from 46 countries and the EU, 25 representatives from international organisations, 44 corporate executives, and 34 members of foreign media. Notable participants included ambassadors from Japan, Portugal, and New Zealand, as well as senior diplomats from Norway, Croatia, Canada, and Turkey.

CCG continued to foster understanding and cooperation between different civilisations and cultures via the "CCG Global Dialogues series," hosting prominent figures such as Graham Allison, Martin Wolf, Stephen Roach, Barry Buzan, William Kirby, Aditya Mattoo, and Denis Simon.

CCG also organised various seminars and roundtables, including a seminar on global governance and China-Africa cooperation ahead of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, a seminar with UN Women on International Women's Day, a talent workshop with International Organization for Migration, a seminar with the China Institute, and the release of the report Protecting Civilians Against Digital Threats During Armed Conflict (Chinese) with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Additionally, it partnered with the Tongzhou District Talent Work Bureau to host the "Beijing Sub-Center International Talent Mobility Roundtable." Through these events, CCG convened diverse perspectives and offered new ideas and solutions for global governance and economic challenges.

As we embark on a new chapter in 2025, CCG remains committed to its mission as a think tank, striving to advance in-depth exchanges and cooperation in global governance, economic collaboration, and social development. In the year ahead, CCG will continue leveraging its strengths in policy research, international dialogue, and intellectual support to provide forward-looking and practical recommendations for addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development.

We deeply appreciate the unwavering support and trust from all sectors of society. Our heartfelt thanks go to CCG's chairpersons, advisors, board members, experts, and partners for their guidance and encouragement, as well as to our senior fellows and dedicated colleagues for their passion and contributions. It is through everyone's collective efforts that CCG continues to thrive in the global think tank arena. Looking to the future, we will join hands with all stakeholders to embark on a new journey, forging a brighter and more remarkable chapter together.

As we bid farewell to the past and welcome the new year, we wish for a more prosperous and flourishing China, a more peaceful and developed world, and success, happiness, and good health to all our friends and supporters. Happy New Year!

Again, this review is a translation based on content published on CCG's official WeChat blog. For a more detailed account of CCG's activities in 2024, please click the link to view the original Chinese version.