The annual Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting and Economics (APJAE) Symposium was this year held in Shanghai----the first time the symposium has been held outside Hong Kong. More than 150 accounting and auditing academics, practitioners and students from around the world attended the 4th APJAE Symposium from 6 to 8 January at the Shanghai National Accounting Institute (SNAI). The symposium was co-organized by City University of Hong Kong.
The symposium's opening ceremony was held in the heart of
Shanghai, an emerging financial centre in the mainland, at the
Shanghai Futures Exchange. Officiating at the ceremony, Shanghai Futures Exchange Chairman
Ms Wang Lihua said, "This annual meeting is a very important academic activity that is of inspirational meaning to the
development of the Shanghai Futures Exchange and the enhancement of
Shanghai as an international financial centre." Quoting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's recent "make no false account" admonition to the accounting industry, Ms Wang said that the futures profession should also operate on the principles of "transparency, equality and fairness".
SNAI President
Professor Xia Dawai told delegates that in the process of transforming to a market economy,
China is searching for an effective governance standard that will fit in with
China's society and economic and legal environment. "In view of this, the APJAE symposium will have significant meaning for us."
The conference kicked off with a Corporate Governance Forum titled "Corporate Governance: In the Wake of Enron" and also featured a Research Forum and paper presentations on a variety of accounting topics.
At the symposium,
Chair Professor Ferdinand Gul, Head of CityU's
Department of Accountancy and Director of the
Accounting and Corporate Governance Centre, announced the formation of the Asia-Pacific Institute of Corporate Governance, an umbrella organization which will organize conferences and disseminate findings of major research in corporate governance in the Asia-Pacific region.
The symposium was co-organized by City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, SNAI, Fudan University and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
