International Conference on the Changes and Reconstruction of Urban Social Structure was hosted by our Research Centre of Modern Cities in China and Department of Sociology at ECNU on October 18th and 19th. Professor Chen Yingfang presided over the opening ceremony. Vice Chancellor of ECNU Luo Guozhen also attended it, making warmly welcome to the scholars and experts present. Chairman of Chinese Sociology Community Li Peilin, and its deputy Chairman Cai He both made speeches in turn. Moreover, Professor Deborah Davis of Yale University, Professor Luo Jiade of Qinghua University, and Professor Chen Yingfang of ECNU all gave reports in the conference.
In the afternoon, the representatives had discussions on “housing and reconstruction of social room” “community organizing and orders” “rural development and the relationship between rural and urban areas” “changes of the cities: new momentum for theories and practice” “new social groups and urban movement” “peasant losing land and power reconstruction” “city policies and youth development” and so on. They reached some common ground by debating on some conflicting ideas. It was a great chance for studies provided by ECNU. And the discussions had some relations with the theme of Shanghai World Expo – “better city, better life”.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Professor Ning Yuemin, director of Research Centre of Modern Cities. Many scholars and experts attended the conference, including some from China, America, France, and Japan.
