On April 7, 2025, the Business History Paper Development Workshop and Xinxin Forum were held at the School of Economics, Peking University. The event was attended by leading scholars, including Prof. Abe de Jong from Monash University and the University of Groningen, Prof. Zhou Jianbo, Chair of the Department of Economic History at School of Economics, Peking University, and various other distinguished professors and Ph.D. students from Peking University, China University of Political Science and Law, Central University of Finance and Economics, Guizhou University, Henan University, Liaoning University, and Xiangtan University.

　　The opening ceremony was hosted by Prof. Lan Rixu, who introduced the preparation process of the workshop and expressed gratitude to Prof. Zhou Jianbo, Prof. Li Xiao, and Dr. Kong Lingyu for their contributions. Prof. Lan also welcomed Prof. Abe de Jong and other distinguished guests, expressing anticipation for showcasing China’s business history research on the international academic stage.

　　In his speech, Prof. Zhou Jianbo emphasized the importance of international academic exchange in the context of globalization. He expressed hopes that this workshop would mark the first step in promoting Chinese business history research internationally, creating a robust platform for academic exchange for both faculty and students.

　　Prof. Li Xiao further noted that this meeting represents a new stage in the development of Chinese business history research, opening new horizons and marking the beginning of China’s business history research going global.

　　Prof. Kong Lingyu shared his international academic experience, highlighting the significance of building a comprehensive network for business history research and encouraging international exchanges in Europe.

　　In the keynote lecture, Prof. Abe de Jong presented on “Quantitative Business History: Motivations, Methodologies, and Examples,” where he discussed the current state of business history research and its under-explored theoretical contributions. He stressed the importance of integrating theory with case studies to enhance the academic influence of business history and advocated for cross-disciplinary approaches.

　　Other scholars shared their research, including Zhou Zichao from China University of Political Science and Law, who presented on the economic activities and impact of Shandong immigrants in Vladivostok, and Prof. Fu Tong from Guizhou University, who discussed the restrictions on mining company development due to inappropriate local governance during the early 20th century.

　　Prof. Ma Haowen, a Ph.D. student from Central University of Finance and Economics, shared his work comparing Western and Chinese modern joint-stock companies’ financing behaviors, while Prof. Dong Baomin from Liaoning University examined the role of banks in military financing during the Republic of China era.

　　Other presentations included Dr. Xiao Weiwei from Xiangtan University, who discussed the impact of commercial social capital on early industrialization in the Late Qing Dynasty, and Wei Linghao, a Ph.D. student from Peking University, who presented on the institutional changes of the Tongji Company, analyzing its evolution from a traditional system to a joint-stock company. At last, Prof. Kong Lingyu also delivered a deep analysis of employee training mechanisms in early Chinese banking institutions, emphasizing their role in building a professional workforce and improving organizational cohesion.

　　The event concluded with a summary by Prof. Zhou Jianbo, marking the successful completion of the workshop and forum.

Group Photo