Hosted by the Institute for China & World Studies and the School of Political Science & International Relations (SPSIR) of Tongji University, the Tongji Youth Workshop on Governance & Strategy No.17 was successfully held in Conference Room A401, Sino-French Center, Siping campus on October 27, 2020. Associate Professor Tang Xiao from the School of Public Policy & Management, Tsinghua University was invited to give a lecture on the theme of “Educational Background of Leaders and Chinese OFDI”. He shared and discussed with more than 50 young teachers and graduate students of Tongji the research results he is improving. This workshop was moderated by Associate Professor Zhong Zhenming, Associate Dean and Head of the Department of International Relations of SPSIR.

In the sharing session, based on his existing research on the location choice of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), Associate Professor Tang explored the important role of soft power in the location choice with education as a path. He introduced the theoretical mechanism under which soft power influences OFDI, with “educational background – leaders” as the key link, and further quantitatively tested the influence of overseas educational background of host country’s leaders on the location choice of Chinese OFDI with panel data from 2007 to 2017. According to his research results, if the host country’s leaders have British and American educational background, it will have a significant weakening effect on the location choice of Chinese OFDI; if they have Chinese and Russian educational background, it will have a significant enhancement effect. In particular, in developing countries and Belt & Road countries, the British and American educational background of leaders will have a greater weakening effect, while in developed countries and non-Belt & Road countries, Chinese and Russian educational background of leaders will have a greater enhancement effect. Besides, the professional knowledge structure of leaders will also have a significant impact on Chinese OFDI. The background in political science will enhance the effect of overseas education, while the background in economics will have an enhancement effect in attracting the location choice of Chinese OFDI.

Associate Professor Tang has focused his research on the alternative factors that affect Chinese OFDI. His attempt to mathematically and scientifically analyze practical problems with scientific quantitative methods and hypothetical deduction attracted great interest and affirmation from the audience.

In the Q&A session, young teachers from the Departments of Political Science, Sociology and Diplomacy of the School put forward personal opinions and questions on the innovative value and extended fields of related research, and the doctoral and master students from the School raised their questions on the methodology of quantitative research, to which Associate Professor Tang gave a wonderful and accurate response. In closing, Associate Dean Zhong thanked Tang for giving such a lively and meticulous lecture that benefited the participants a lot, and looked forward to his visit to Tongji again for further exchange.