## IMF Shanghai Center Newsletter ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [IMF Shanghai Center Newsletter](https://www.imf.org/-/media/images/imf/countries/resrep/ros/newsletter/issue-1/iscnea2026001.pdf) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/-/media/images/imf/countries/resrep/ros/newsletter/issue-1/iscnea2026001.pdf.md) - [Structured JSON version](/-/media/images/imf/countries/resrep/ros/newsletter/issue-1/iscnea2026001.pdf.json) --- ### Academic Seminars and Events - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) officially launched the operations of its Shanghai Center on December 8, 2025; launch was followed by an inaugural Shanghai Center research seminar on “Trending Issues in Macroeconomic Policy Research.” - January 29, 2026: IMF Shanghai Center hosted a book launch featuring China-Africa Linkages presented by Papa N’DIAYE and Wenjie Chen; moderated by Mangal Goswami. The book examines China–Africa economic relationship, highlighting sound policy frameworks, capacity building, foreign direct investment, and fintech, and discusses the role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). - March 25, 2026: Small-scale roundtable on artificial intelligence convened by IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas; participants included Yanqing Yang, Yinliang Tan, Siheng Chen, Jian Xu, Bo Dai, Yunwu Intelligence, Lei Fan, Yang Liu; moderated by Li Cao. Discussion topics: advances in AI, implications for productivity and economic development, and policy/business/social challenges and opportunities. - March 27, 2026: Webinar on the economic implications of the energy transition in the Asia-Pacific region. Presenters: John Spray, Sneha Thube, Alice Tianbo Zhang; moderator: Ms. Cao. Discussants: Dr. Wang Jinzhao, Dr. Wang Yao, Dr. Xie Chunping, Dr. Chen Ji, Ms. Sha Fu, Dr. Zhang Da. - Workshop on global economic outlook and China’s consumption trends featuring Dr. Steve Barnett and Dr. Wang Qing; speakers addressed global economic developments, China’s macroeconomic outlook, and consumption’s role in sustainable growth. - Closed-door roundtable on macroeconomic implications of AI with opening and closing remarks by IMF Deputy Managing Director Bo Li; discussions moderated by Mr. Wiegand. Topics: AI’s effects on productivity, labor markets, competition, growth, financial stability, and macroeconomic policymaking. - Academic webinar on pension reform and population aging in China: presenters Hui He and Lei Ning. Key finding: reduced pension benefits have significantly increased both saving rates and labor supply; saving and continued labor force participation act as self-insurance responses to lower pension generosity and longer life expectancy. - July 21, 2026: Inaugural Visiting Scholar Seminar — Professor Shang-Jin Wei presented on Central Bank Swap Lines and Currency Choices in Trade. Discussants: Dr. Zhongxia Jin and Dr. Justin Raymond Eloriaga. Participants included senior representatives from the People’s Bank of China, Bank of Korea, Shanghai Financial Bureau, AIIB, BIS, and academia. - September 7, 2026: Second Visiting Scholar Seminar — Professor Jun Pan presented “Pricing the Global Trade Vulnerability.” Key result: firms with higher import-country concentration earned a significant risk premium; trade vulnerability’s nature has been evolving. Discussants: Dr. Jianguang Shen and Dr. Xinrui Zhou. Attendees included representatives from the People’s Bank of China and the Shanghai Financial Bureau. ### Outreach Activities - September 15, 2025: Mr. Wiegand delivered a presentation at Fudan University on Structural Transformation and Asia's Growth Model. - October 24, 2025: Mr. Wiegand moderated the Bund Summit roundtable “Addressing High Public Debt: Policy Responses,” featuring Robert Rubin, George Papaconstantinou, Klemen Boštjančič, and Lucio Pench. - October 29, 2025: Mr. Wiegand, Ms. Cao, and Mr. Marshall Mills participated in World Economic Outlook (WEO) outreach at the Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF), Shanghai Jiao Tong University. - November 17, 2025: Andrea Pescatori, Mr. Wiegand, and Ms. Cao conducted Regional Economic Outlook (REO) outreach at the Shanghai Head Office of the People's Bank of China. - November 19, 2025: Mr. Wiegand and Ms. Cao conducted REO outreach and met with Dr. Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University. - February 24, 2026: Mr. Wiegand spoke at the Shanghai International Financial Center Top Ten News Press Conference. - March 17, 2026: Mr. Wiegand, Ms. Cao, Mr. Mills, and Ms. Zhou visited the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and met with Zhou Jiayi and Erik Berglöf. - March 4–6, 2026: Ms. Cao participated in the Asia in 2050 Conference in Bangkok. - March 24–27, 2026: Mr. Wiegand moderated a roundtable on Enhancing Regional Coordination to Promote Financial Stability at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference; featured Thomas Helbling. - May 8, 2026: Ms. Cao presented on Economic Transformation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific at Peking University. - May 14–15, 2026: Mr. Wiegand and Ms. Cao participated in the Annual SAIF Research Conference. - May 20–23, 2026: Mr. Wiegand and Ms. Cao participated in the 13th Annual Conference and the Asian Monetary Policy Forum in Singapore; met with the Director and Chief Economist of AMRO. - June 5–6, 2026: Mr. Wiegand, Dr. Thi Thanh Hao Dau, and Dr. Peng Qing participated in the 9th Annual International Conference of China and Development Studies at Antai College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. - June 10–12, 2026: Mr. Wiegand and Ms. Cao visited Wuhan University and Nanjing University for WEO outreach. - June 17, 2026: Mr. Wiegand, Ms. Cao, Mr. Goswami, and Mr. Mills participated in the Lujiazui Forum; Mr. Mills served as a speaker. - June 24, 2026: IMF Shanghai Center and the Institute of International Finance (IIF) held a joint workshop on global economic developments; presentation by Ashok Bhundia. - June 29, 2026: Dr. Eloriaga participated in the Macro Conference at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. - July 2–3, 2026: Ms. Cao, Ma Chang, and Dr. Wang Xinyi participated in the 2026 China Financial Research Conference in Beijing. - July 3–4, 2026: Dr. Peng and Dr. Zhang Ziqiao participated in the China Economics Society Annual Conference in Chengdu; Mr. Zhang presented a research paper. - July 13–14, 2026: Ms. Cao moderated a session on geopolitical risk at the HKIMR–BIS–IMF Seminar on Global Interconnections and Financial Stability in Hong Kong. - August 4, 2026: Dr. Eloriaga presented “The Fed Information Effect, Episode by Episode” at the Tuesday Seminar of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China’s Institute of Modern Finance. ### Internal Highlights - IMF Shanghai Center officially opened on December 8, 2025 with Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Gover Pan Gong Sheng and Mayor Gong Zheng. - IMF SHC Administration Team built up in January, 2026. - IMF SHC held its first Town Hall on July 7, 2026. - SHC welcomed visiting scholars in July, 2026: - Jun Pan, Chair Professor, Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University - Xu Zhiwei, Professor, School of Economics, Fudan University - Ma Chang, Associate Professor, International School of Finance, Fudan University - Li Wei, Associate Researcher, Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance, Shanghai Jiao Tong University ### SHC Upcoming Events - September 24, 2026: Professor Zhu Xiaodong will deliver a seminar titled Long-Term Growth Perspectives for China and Asia; remarks from Dr. Peng Wensheng and Dr. Dau; time: 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. - September 30, 2026: Dr. Eloriaga will present his paper titled Room to Respond at the University of the Philippines, School of Economics. - October 16, 2026: Professor Yan Bai will present research on World Financial Cycles and Global Trade from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the inaugural Shanghai Macro Seminar co-hosted by the IMF Shanghai Center and local universities. - October 27, 2026: First SHC Workshop of the year — closed-door, hybrid-format brown bag seminar from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Research projects to be discussed: - Trade Disruptions and Monetary Policy, presented by Dr. Peng and Dr. Eloriaga - From Factory Asia to Market Asia, presented by Dr. Dau and Dr. Zhou - Stablecoins and Monetary Policy in Emerging Economies, presented by Dr. Wang Xinyi and Mr. Zhang - December 4–5, 2026: IMF Shanghai Center will hold its second annual research conference in Shanghai, China. --- _Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/images/imf/countries/resrep/ros/newsletter/issue-1/iscnea2026001.pdf_