News & Events

On 12 April 2025, the China and Global Development Network (CGDN) of the Department of Applied Social Sciences (APSS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Peking University- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University China Social Work Research Centre organised the “Solidarity Economy in Practice Symposium” in Beijing as part of the “Solidarity Economy” project. More than 50 scholars, villagers and social organisations representatives attended the symposium, including Prof. KU Hok Bun, Director of the CGDN, and Dr YIP Sui Kan, Assistant Director (Partnership and Development) of CGDN. 

This symposium aimed to review and summarise outcomes and to promote related practice and research. During the symposium, participants shared ideas and experiences and discussed the value of solidarity economy practices in various contexts. 

At the end of the symposium, participants discussed the development planning focused on “sustainable livelihood” for relocated communities as part of the second phase of the “Solidarity Economy” project. 

The solidarity economy is a process of economic organisation that focuses on social well-being, cooperation and solidarity. Since July 2020, APSS has collaborated with various partners to apply the concept of “solidarity economy” to explore alternative ways of community development in areas such as Zhoushan Village, Henan, Jiangbutas Village, Altay Region, Xinjiang, and Gacha Village, Xinglongwa Town, Aohan Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia. Through on-site training and field study, our collaborative projects under the “Solidarity Economy” project support villagers in exploring ecological, sustainable, mutually supportive and cooperative models of agricultural economic cooperation and rural life in domestic contexts.