Held in 2017, the Nineteenth National Congress of the CPC further expressly states that “It is necessary to accelerate the construction of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics, and advance the construction of new-type think tanks with Chinese characteristics”, which calls for the construction of new-type think tanks with Chinese characteristics, and give full play to the important roles in theoretical innovation, assistance for national governance, political advice, public opinion guidance, social service and public diplomacy, etc. Year of 2018 not only marks the 40th Anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, but also the 5th Anniversary of the important instruction that “It is necessary to strengthen the construction of new-type think tanks with Chinese characteristics and establish sound decision-making consultation system” as adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the Eighteenth CPC Central Committee. At this important occasion, Reports on Chinese Think Tanks from 2013 to 2017 are compiled into such a book that contains continuous observations, researches and thoughts of SASS Center for Think Tank Studies (CTTS) for the development of Chinese think tanks.
At present, Report on Chinese Think Tanks is highly emphasized by the central and local decision-makers and other think tanks, which is strongly supported by competent authorities and the media. It can be said that Report on Chinese Think Tanks is almost in sync with the development of new-type think tanks with Chinese characteristics. Report on Chinese Think Tanks keeps abreast of the themes of the times, lays stress on new characteristics and new trends in the development of Chinese think tanks, strives to reveal cutting-edge issues of Chinese think tank development through questionnaires and field research visits, captures the Chinese elements of think tank development, constructs Chinese think tank evaluation system with Chinese characteristics, and gives annual rankings and evaluations for influencing powers of major Chinese think tanks. This book witnesses the construction and development of new-type think tanks with Chinese characteristics from objective, calm and independent analysis perspectives, offers a platform for policy makers and governmental service users to demonstrate specialties, characteristics and expertise of think tank development, informs think tank constructors and related practitioners of industry development trends, standards and experience, improves policy environment of think tank development for think tank management institutions, and sets forth forward-looking and feasible countermeasures for accelerating the implementation of new policies on think tanks. This book sets a milestone of SASS Innovation Project entitled “Research on New-type Think Tanks with Chinese Characteristics”.
