On July 4, the Second School of Finance Alumni Forum was grandly held at Renmin University of China. Co-hosted by the School of Finance at Renmin University and the Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences for Financial Policy Research of the Ministry of Education, the conference featured 42 scholars actively engaged in academia both domestically and internationally as keynote speakers, presenters, commentators, and hosts. Over 60 alumni returned from around the world to attend in person, while more than 200 faculty and alumni participated offline.

Zheng Xinye, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Renmin University of China, delivered the opening speech. He highlighted that the School of Finance, as the first base in New China to cultivate high-level talents in the field, has made pioneering contributions to the development of finance and economics disciplines in China and has nurtured a large number of outstanding talents. He emphasized that alumni are the school's most valuable asset and driving force, expressing hope that they regard the school as their home and actively participate in its development. The forum is not only a platform for academic exchange but also a grand event showcasing talent cultivation and alumni strength. This year's conference brought together alumni from different eras, displaying the profound academic heritage and spirit of Renmin University. Lastly, he expressed his gratitude to the School of Finance for their meticulous organization and wished the conference great success.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Zhuang Yumin, Dean of the School of Finance. She provided a brief introduction to the latest developments of the school, thanked the alumni and friends from all walks of life for their enthusiastic participation and support, and warmly welcomed all the attendees.

The conference included five parallel forums: "Asset Pricing," "Corporate Finance I," "Corporate Finance II," "Macro Finance," and "Macro and Policy." 30 scholars, active on the frontlines of academia both at home and abroad, delivered insightful presentations and critiques. These scholars included not only alumni from far and wide but also those currently teaching at universities around the world. Additionally, five young faculty members from the School of Finance chaired the parallel forums.

The annual conference awarded a prize for the best paper this year. After a rigorous evaluation process, the co-authored paper "Fintech Entry, Lending Market Competition, and Welfare" by Assistant Professor Ye Zhiqiang from Zhejiang University, an alumnus of the School of Finance' 2013 master's program, won the Best Paper Award. Professor Jia Junxue, Head of the Department of Fiscal Studies at the School of Finance and Director of the Development Planning Office and Discipline Construction Office at Renmin University of China, presented the award to the winner.

Professor Jia Junxue delivered a keynote speech titled "Building a Fiscal Policy System for Advancing Chinese Modernization." He emphasized that high-quality development is key to achieving Chinese modernization, and perfecting the fiscal policy system is a crucial part of this process.

At the closing ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Finance, Luo Yu, gave a concluding speech. He reviewed the highlights of the conference and expressed sincere gratitude to the attending alumni, experts, and scholars. He extended special thanks to the members of the review committee, the organizing committee, and the hardworking staff and volunteers who made the conference a success. Luo Yu stated that the collective effort of everyone involved ensured the success of the conference and expressed hopes for more exchanges and cooperation in the future, empowering the development of alumni careers and jointly promoting the progress of the school and its disciplines.