Peking University, Beijing, March 8th, 2009: On the morning of March 3rd, "2009 China Report–people's livelihood" publication and conference forum was held by Peking University at the State Council Information Office.

“Chinese family dynamic follow-up survey” is not only a long-term follow-up survey done by PKU, but also China’s first national follow-up survey project. The first phase of the survey is to be finished by 2020. The feasibility of the project will be tested from 2009 to 2010 and the project will be fully implemented from 2010 to 2020. PKU will carry on a follow-up survey of 160 districts of 25 provinces (cities), which contains 640 villages, 16,000 families, about 56,000 individuals.

In 2008, Chinese Social Sciences Research Center of PKU carried out “Chinese family dynamic follow-up survey” in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong Province. “2009 China Report–people’s livelihood” is based on the descriptive analysis of the survey results by PKU experts. The analysis is divided into five parts: social life, education, health, living arrangement, social communication, social confidence and values. The analysis present a systematic status of people’s livelihood in these 3 districts.

Publication conference was organized by PKU Vice President Zhang Guoyou. According to Deputy Secretary of PKU Party Committee Yang He, Chinese Social Sciences Research Center was founded in September 2006. It is an interdisciplinary and inter- departmental agency. It surveys, collects, collates and integrates China’s social and economic science data. Through “Chinese family dynamic follow-up survey”, it collects three levels of data from individuals, families to communities. It records the true reform of China’s society, economy, population, education and health, thus set up a scientific, systematic and comprehensive data platform for academic research and policy decision-making.

Yang also pointed out that “Chinese family dynamic follow-up survey” is a large scale, lasting, extensive, difficult, scientific project which can not be separated from broad support of all sectors of society, particularly concerns and support of all government departments, assistance and understanding of respondents’ families.

Leaders and experts from the Education Department, Civil Affairs Department, National Population Commission, Family Planning Commission, State Information Center and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Peking University attended the publication symposium. Experts gave a high evaluation on “Chinese family dynamic follow-up survey”, considering that the establishment of a comprehensive data follow-up platform is essential to modern social science, modern science decision-making and social governance and the promotion of scientific development and scientific decision-making. At the same time, experts hope that PKU will persevere regardless of what difficulties they will meet, for the value of follow-up survey data relies on its long-term and systematic process, the longer the better.

Book conference was presided over by the executive vice minister of Social Sciences Department of PKU Xiao Qun. Director of the PKU Social Science Investigation Center Professor Qiu Zeqi introduced the project design and implementation of “Chinese family dynamics follow-up survey”, pointing out that in terms of the design and implementation, “Chinese family dynamic follow-up investigation” is a collection of essence of other similar projects in the world. It attempts to take advantage of the reformation of China’s society, economy, population and health by follow-up investigation of family members of respondents. It has its own characteristics in complexity, design efficiency, theory development and methods of innovation. Member of Management Committee of PKU Chinese Social Sciences Investigation Center, executive editor of “2009 China Report–people’s livelihood”, Professor Liu Shiding, introduced the purpose of the report writing and writing process. He pointed out that the report is meant to give the public a view of the phenomenon of the investigation and leave room for judgment and analysis to the readers.

Reporters from Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, China Youth Daily, China Education, Beijing Daily, Beijing Youth Daily, attended the conference.

Edited By: Wang Yi

Translated By: Xiang Yunke

Source: PKU News (Chinese)