Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests and esteemed colleagues, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this important international conference on Political Economy, Global Order, and World Development.

　 After 18 months of preparation and planning, we eventually put together seven great panels. Five years ago, we organized an even bigger international conference on a post-western-centric world with world-class speakers at the same venue jointly with the Fair Winds Foundation, Harvard’s Fairbank center, NUS’ East Asia Institute, LSE’s IDEAS and NTU’s Hu Fu Center for East Asia Democratic Studies. Today, with the efforts collectively made by our steering committee, we now present to you an intellectual feast where we bring together leading scholars from around the world to share insights and ideas, and to engage in rigorous and thoughtful debates on these pressing issues.

　 We will explore the role of institutions, policies, and strategies in shaping the economic and political dynamics of the global order. We will examine the impact of global trade, finance, and investment on the development of different regions and countries. And we will analyze the complex interactions between domestic politics, social justice, economic growth and environment. By doing so, we hope to deepen our understanding of the complex and dynamic forces that are shaping the world we live in. Our collective insights and ideas will help to inform policy and practice and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable global future.

　 TSE is a young institution with the ambitious goal of matching other world-renowned academic institutions , such as the LSE. Particularly, TSE aims to foster a similar environment where a range of important schools of thought can engage in constructive dialogue and rigorous debate, thereby promoting intellectual growth through the exchange of diverse perspectives. Our aspiration is that by fostering such an environment, TSE will be well-positioned to confront the critical challenges facing human society in the twenty-first century and actively contribute to their resolution. Today’s conference is our first gift to the world since the creation of TSE less than two years ago.

　 I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our partners and speakers for their support in making this conference possible. And, of course, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for joining us today. I look forward to a stimulating and productive discussion over the coming days. Thank you.