The 36th Annual Conference of the Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA2026)

China’s Economic and Business Transformation in a Changing Global Context

New growth drivers, global reconfiguration, and emerging business realities

Hosted by 

The Emerging Market Research Group, The University of Sydney Business School, and The China Studies Centre, The University of Sydney

23-24 November 2026

Call for papers

China’s economy is entering a new phase marked by structural adjustment, technological advancement, demographic change, green transition, and evolving patterns of business development. These changes are unfolding alongside broader shifts in the global economy, including the reorganisation of trade, investment, production networks, and regional cooperation. Together, these developments are reshaping China’s domestic business environment and its economic links with the Asia-Pacific and the wider world.

The 36rd Annual CESA Conference, hosted by the Emerging Market Research Group and the China Studies Centre at The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, invites submissions of original research on the Chinese economy and firms. This conference invites papers that explore the implications of these shifts for China’s economic development, business transformation, and international engagement. We welcome submissions from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives, including economics, business, management, political economy, and related fields. Topics may include, but are not limited to, macroeconomic restructuring, trade and investment, innovation and industrial upgrading, digitalisation, sustainability, regulation and governance, and China’s evolving international economic relations.

Conference Themes

The conference welcomes papers that examine, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• China’s changing growth model and macroeconomic adjustment

• Trade, investment, and the reconfiguration of global and regional supply chains

• Innovation, digital transformation, and the future of Chinese business

• Regulation, governance, and the evolving institutional environment

• Green development, sustainability, and energy transition

• China’s economic and business relations with Australia, Asia-Pacific, and the wider world

We look forward to receiving your high-quality submissions. Accepted papers will be presented at the conference, providing an excellent opportunity to share your research insights and engage in fruitful discussions with fellow scholars.

Special Issues:

Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies

Asian-Pacific Economic Literature

The Organising Committee:

Dr Wei Li (Co-chair), The University of Sydney

Professor Vikas Kumar (Co-chair), The University of Sydney

Professor Roc Shi (Co-chair), University of Technology Sydney

Conference enquiries and paper abstract submissions: cesa2026@163.com