Liberal economics think tank Unirule locked out of its office for ‘security reasons’ ahead of forum
Founder and former CASS economist Mao Yushi prevented from leaving home for duration of belt and road forum
A two-day academic seminar at China’s largest non-official think tank was called off on Saturday because doors and lifts at its office building were locked and disabled amid upgraded security for Beijing’s two-day belt and road forum that begins on Sunday.
Members of the Unirule Institute of Economics, one of China’s most influential private think tanks, arrived at their office on Saturday to find the front door locked and the button to their floor disabled at the elevator.
The think tank was told on Friday night not to hold the seminar, but the main scholars decided to attend any way as visiting speakers had arrived in Beijing, according to Wu Si, Unirule’s chairman.
The drama took place as the capital was getting in gear for the belt and road summit, a major diplomatic event in which President Xi Jinping is hosting delegates from more than 100 countries – including 29 who are sending top leaders – to discuss the Beijing-backed initiative to assert its rise of global status. The two-day forum kicks off on Sunday.
On the same day, Zhang Junkuo, Vice President of the State Council’s Development Research Centre, told a press briefing that the country would encouraged more think tanks to take part and provide advice to the country’s belt and road initiatives, with so far 47 think tanks from 30 countries joined the China-led Silkroad Think Tank Association.
