MingDe Forum®
The way of great learning lies in illuminating bright virtue, in being close to the people, and in resting only in the highest good.
Taking mingde — bright virtue — as its guiding standard and opening its arms to all rivers, the MingDe Forum was founded by the RUC North America Alumni Association with equal weight on openness and international perspective, and a balance of scholarship and practice. Launched in New York in October 2015 and formally named in November 2016, the Forum debates and deliberates in pursuit of true knowledge, learns from every companion on the road to self-cultivation and family harmony, and offers counsel with country in mind, aspiring to benefit the wider world.
Since its launch in New York in 2015, the MingDe Forum has held an annual meeting every year. The most recent, in 2025, was themed "Global Rebalancing" and took place in New York and Vancouver.
For forum partnerships, please contact ruc_naaa@ruc.edu.cn
Past Annual Meetings
Global Rebalancing: Power, Rules, and Innovation
Held on November 15 in New York and November 16 in Vancouver, the 2025 annual meeting brought together alumni and guests across two cities to examine power structures, rules and order, and innovation trends in a rebalancing world.
Insights and Decision-Making in the Era of Global Paradigm Shifts
Held on November 16, 2024 at the Yale Club of New York City, the annual meeting marked the Forum's tenth anniversary (2015–2024).
Opportunity in Transition: Global Economy and Investment Outlook
In November 2023, the annual meeting was held at the Harvard Club of New York. President Lin Shangli of Renmin University of China delivered a video address, calling for the Forum to keep building itself into a highland of wisdom for exchange and mutual learning, a frontier platform for sharing China's voice, and a solid bond uniting alumni. Eleven speakers from economic research, financial investment, and industrial investment explored the macroeconomic outlook and new elements of investment decision-making.
An Era of Transition: Recovery and Reshaping of the Global Political Economy
"Green hills share the same clouds and rain; the bright moon has never known two villages." Opening with a video address by Vice President Du Peng of Renmin University of China, the 2022 annual meeting unfolded in New York in a hybrid online–offline format, focusing on China's economic recovery, world economic trends, and the outlook for financial markets.
Economic Outlook and China Private-Equity Investment under a New Institutional Order
From December 9 to 12, 2021 the MingDe Forum 2021 Annual Meeting was held online. President Liu Wei of Renmin University of China congratulated the Forum in a video address. Twenty academic and industry experts from China and the United States — in international politics, economic research and financial investment — discussed U.S.–China relations, the global economy, decarbonisation, regulatory reform, investment and regional opportunities, drawing an audience of more than 500 worldwide.
Online edition (webinar)
On December 11–12, 2020 (Eastern Time) the MingDe Forum 2020 Annual Meeting, the association's flagship event, was held as a webinar. Vice President Liu Yuanchun conveyed the university's congratulations and delivered a keynote on China's economic outlook in the post-pandemic era.
New York · Bank of China Tower
On November 10, 2019 the MingDe Forum 2019 Annual Meeting was held at the Bank of China New York Branch tower on Times Square. Vice President He Yaomin led a delegation to attend and gave a keynote address. More than 100 people took part, including core members of the association, representatives of the Chinese Consulate General in New York, partners, Chinese companies based in the U.S., and RUC alumni from nearly ten states.
New York · Rockefeller Center
The MingDe Forum 2018 Annual Meeting took place on November 4, 2018 at Rockefeller Center, New York, with Executive Vice President Wang Liming, the noted legal scholar, leading the university delegation. Nearly 200 professionals from the economic, financial and business communities of both countries and RUC alumni from more than ten states discussed U.S.–China relations, the macroeconomic situation, and quantitative investment strategy.
with the RUC 80th Anniversary Celebration
The MingDe Forum 2017 Annual Meeting, held together with the celebration of Renmin University of China's 80th anniversary, took place on November 12, 2017 at Rockefeller Center, New York. Vice President Wu Xiaoqiu, the noted economist, attended in person, and Deputy Consul General Zhang Meifang of the Chinese Consulate General in New York gave an address. Over 200 senior figures from economics, finance, business, education and culture, together with alumni from more than ten states, discussed macro policy, investment strategy and cultural exchange in a new era.
The global political economy and asset allocation under the “New Normal”
In the glittering days before Thanksgiving, with the flags of Rockefeller Center flying and the U.S. presidential election just concluded, senior figures from the economic, financial and business communities of China and the United States gathered for the MingDe Forum 2016 Annual Meeting to discuss the global political and economic situation, financial-market developments and global asset-allocation strategy under the “New Normal”. The Forum formally adopted the name “MingDe” at this edition.
RMB Internationalization Forum & launch of the RMB Internationalization Report 2015
As RMB internationalisation accelerated and drew worldwide attention, the “RMB Internationalization Forum and launch of the RMB Internationalization Report 2015” — organised by RUC's International Monetary Institute, hosted by RUC NAAA, and co-organised by Penn State's Center for Global Business Studies, the Zhejiang University EMBA Center and the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) — was held successfully in New York on October 8, 2015. It was the beginning of the MingDe Forum.
Texts follow the association's records; photographs are from the association's album and the annual-meeting videos.
“MingDe Forum” / 「北美明德论坛」 is a registered service mark of the RUC North America Alumni Association (USPTO Principal Register, Reg. No. 7,981,486, registered 14 October 2025, Int. Cl. 41).