From Dec. 24 to Dec. 25, 2022, our PhD student Zhao Ziyu attended the 14th Annual Conference on Spatial Economics in China. The annual conference is co-hosted by Tongji University and Wuyishan City People's Government, and academic research and regional economic development practice are closely integrated. Nearly 400 experts and scholars from 122 government departments, research units and universities, including the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University and Tsinghua University, attended the conference. Lei Xinghui, Vice President of Tongji University, pointed out in his speech that Chinese spatial economics is a fusion and intersection of many disciplines such as regional economics, urban economics, international trade, economic geography, etc. It mainly studies the spatial differences of economic activities and their development trends.

This year's annual conference combined with the development strategy of "good landscape, good economy and good life" of Nanping Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and discussed new thinking, new methods and new paths of high-quality development of Nanping City, which is of great significance to the in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and the spirit of the 20th National Congress.

At the conference, dozens of experts and scholars, including Xiao Jincheng, An Husen, Lin Tuo, Zhang Keyun, Ma Ji, Zhou Yiren, Ma Tao, Zhang Qiang, Gu Guofeng, Feng Xiao, Hu Chengguang, Zou Xuan, Zhu Xiewei, Chen Zhangxi and Wu Wenjie, delivered keynote speeches. The conference featured four themes "Theory and Practice of Spatial Economy", "New Urbanization and Rural Revitalization", "Double Cycle and High Level of Foreign Opening", and "'Good Landscape, Good Economy, Good Life' and High Quality Development" for special reports and discussions.

Zhao Ziyu presented her paper "Has Coordinated Regional Development Improved the Effectiveness of Financial and Fiscal Poverty Alleviation?", which investigates the impact of fiscal and financial poverty alleviation policies on farmers' income in poor counties using spatial econometric methods in the policy context of coordinated regional development at the "Theory and Practice of Spatial Economy" sub-forum. The experts at the conference made a lot of enlightening comments and suggestions on the article, which provided great help to improve and enhance the article. It was a great pleasure to learn more about academics, enhance communication, expand horizons and gain friendship in this conference.