【Program】 Microfinance has existed in China since the early 1990s, but at no other time in history has the sector undergone such exceptional growth and rapid change. The development of microfinance institutions and microcredit companies continues to rise in China, but what implications do these trends hold for the future? In its first International Speaker Forum, CFPA Microfinance will bring together academics and practitioners to discuss the future landscape of microfinance in China – from an increasing emphasis on impact evaluation and social metrics to financial technology and government regulation. This panel discussion will be incredibly relevant for all development professionals and anyone interested in the Chinese economy. 【Date】 June 25th, 2015 (Thursday), 14:30-17:30PM 【Location】 Cheku Café, 48 Haidian West Street, Haidian District, Beijing, Tel: 010-82627127 (车库咖啡，海淀西大街48号鑫鼎宾馆2楼，电话：010-82627127) 【Registration】 Call Daniel at 186-10030453 or email daniel@cfpamf.org.cn with name, company, and title. All are welcome to attend, but please register in advance. Seating is limited. 【About CFPA Microfinance】 CFPA Microfinance, founded in 1996 as part of the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, is a domestic social enterprise committed to increasing the income of rural micro entrepreneurs through the use of no-collateral, doorstep microcredit services. It has become the largest pro-poor microfinance institution in China, covering 147 counties across 17 provinces, with over 275,000 active clients and an outstanding loan balance of 2.3 billion RMB. 【About The Citi Foundation】 The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com 【Speaker Bios】 Xiangping Jia, Professor at Northwest Agriculture & Forest University Xiangping Jia is a professor in agricultural economics at Northwest Agriculture & Forest University (NAFU, located in Shaanxi, China). He received his PhD from the University of Hohenheim, Germany in 2008. Working on research about agricultural policies and rural development, he has a particular interest in financial innovations in developing countries. He has published one monograph and several peer-reviewed articles about China’s rural finance in academic journals such as Development Policy Review, China Economic Review, and China Agricultural Economic Review. Peter Kelly, Assistant Professor at Renmin University Peter Kelly is an Assistant Professor in the School of Economics at Renmin University, where he teaches development economics, agricultural economics, environmental economics, and public economics. He has published mainly in the area of sustainable agricultural development. He holds a PhD in agricultural and resource economics from UC Berkeley. Rong Kong, Professor at Northwest Agriculture & Forest University Rong Kong is a professor in the College of Economics and Management at Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University. She worked at Cornell University during 2006-2007 as a visiting scholar. Ms. Kong is interested in the fields of rural finance, micro credit, rural financial management, risk management and agricultural economic management. She has published over 60 papers and hosted 2 NSF projects and 12 other projects over the past 10 years. Ms. Kong received her PhD in 2002. Kai Hsu, Co-Head of PlaNet Finance China Kai Hsu is Co-Head of PlaNet Finance China, previously serving as Director of Administration & Finance. Beginning in September 2014, Mr. Hsu has been a member of a PlaNet Finance China team conducting research on P2P lending worldwide, in collaboration with Credit Suisse. Most recently, his work has focused on P2P and FinTech in China specifically. Prior to joining PlaNet Finance, Mr. Hsu worked in the Institutional Investor Services Division of State Street Bank. He is a graduate of Amherst College and a Princeton in Asia fellow. Huishan Lian, Operations Analyst at International Finance Corporation Huishan is the Operations Analyst in IFC’s Financial Institutions Group. She is currently working in the areas of microfinance, rural finance, digital finance and responsible finance with government regulators, sectoral associations and leading corporations to promote financial inclusion in China. Ms. Lian started in IFC by working in the space of Green Finance and Carbon Trading. Prior to IFC, she worked at the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS). Ms. Lian holds a Master’s degree in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics. 【Schedule】 14:30-15:00 Snacks & Refreshments 15:00-15:15 Welcome Addresses by Organizer Dongwen Liu CFPA Microfinance 15:15-16:15 Panel Discussion 1:Evaluating the Impact of Microfinance Xiangping Jia Social Impact Assessment of Microfinance in China Peter Kelly Social Benefits of MF: International Evidence Rong Kong Rural Credit at the Local Level 16:15-17:00 Panel Discussion 2: New Innovations, Regulation and Growth Kai Hsu Financial Technology and P2P Huishan Lian Policy Issues and Regulatory Hurdles 17:00-17:30 Q&A and Networking