On September 7, 2024, the "Academic Symposium on Demand-side Reform under the Digital Economy" jointly organized by the Digital Economy Development and Governance Forum of Wuhan University, the Editorial Department of China & World Economy, the Institute of World Economy of Fudan University, and Zhongchengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd. was smoothly convened at the School of Economics and Management of Wuhan University. A multitude of renowned domestic experts and young scholars gathered to jointly explore the significant issues of domestic demand-side reform in the context of the digital economy.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Luo Zhi, the vice dean of the School of Economics and Management. Firstly, Professor Luo introduced the guests and participating scholars, and provided an account of the basic circumstances of the Digital Economy Development and Governance Forum of Wuhan University and the Economics Department of Wuhan University. On behalf of the school, she warmly welcomed all the expert teachers and young scholars to Luojiashan to participate in this academic symposium. Subsequently, Professor Wan Guanghua, the director of the Institute of World Economy of Fudan University, delivered a speech. Professor Wan pointed out that since 2008, significant changes have occurred in the international economic landscape. Against the backdrop of global turbulence, increased uncertainty, and the transformation of globalization, conducting in-depth analyses of the factors influencing China's demand, exploring the problems and challenges faced in boosting demand, and proposing feasible solutions hold great significance for both China and global development. To this end, the Institute of World Economy of Fudan University, the School of Economics and Management of Wuhan University, and the Editorial Department of China & World Economy jointly prepared the special issue "Navigating Chinese Economy: A Demand Perspective", hoping to collect appropriate manuscripts from aspects such as domestic and international trade, investment, and consumption through this conference for submission to the special issue, and discuss how to expand China's domestic and foreign demand. Finally, Professor Feng Xiaoming, the deputy editor-in-chief of China & World Economy, delivered a speech. Deputy Editor-in-Chief Feng indicated that the theme discussed at this conference is of great significance for China's economic transformation and high-quality development. The conference received a total of 76 manuscripts, from which 11 papers were selected for participation in the forum, and three exceptionally outstanding young and middle-aged experts from the academic community were invited for commentary, namely Professor Liu Zhikuo from Fudan University, Researcher Zhang Chuanchuan from Zhejiang University, and Professor Fu Shihe from Wuhan University. Deputy Editor-in-Chief Feng anticipated that this conference would feature splendid paper presentations and heated discussions, and expressed gratitude to the conference organizing team of Wuhan University.

The process of this academic symposium was divided into two sessions in the morning and afternoon, with a total of ten young scholars sharing their research findings. They were Wang Junmeng, a master's student from Zhejiang Gongshang University, Chen Siyu, a doctoral student from Northwest University, Li Jinpu, a doctoral student from Tsinghua University, Sun Wei, a master's student from Shandong Normal University, Associate Professor Zhong Tenglong from Central University of Finance and Economics, Guo Xiaonan, a doctoral student from Zhejiang University, Wei Jishi, a doctoral student from Wuhan University, Chen Mingcong, a doctoral student from Xiamen University, Cheng Hong, an undergraduate student from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Liu Yaqi, a doctoral student from Shanxi University of Finance and Economics. These ten young scholars embarked from multiple dimensions such as macroeconomic policies, household consumption upgrading, application of digital technologies, infrastructure construction, and supply chain management, analyzed the interaction between the digital economy and demand-side reform, and shared the latest research results.

After each scholar concluded sharing their research findings, there were not only mutual evaluations among the young scholars but also professional comments from senior scholars within the academic community. In addition to the invited guests of the conference and teachers Chang Shuyu and Zhang Lin from the editorial department, participating in the comments were Professor Chao Xiaojing from Northwest University, Assistant Professor Xiong Ruichi from Wuhan University, and Special Research Associate Shen Yang.