On April 17, Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM) concluded the first offline module of the Emerging Policymakers Program (EPP) for sustainable development in developing countries, marking a step forward in its effort to cultivate interdisciplinary international talent.
The EPP is a collaboration with the Stanford University's Leadership Academy for Development, London School of Economics, and supported by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The program is dedicated to equipping government officials from emerging economies and developing countries with the knowledge and skills in climate policy, and to fostering their leadership in effectively addressing global climate challenges. The program is structured in two parts — online and offline — and spans a range of cutting-edge topics.
The opening ceremony of the EPP
Thirty-six students from 23 countries — 78% of whom hold master's or doctoral degrees and 51% are women — gathered in China for a transformative journey of learning. Their mission is to grow not only as climate policymakers but as global connectors and change-makers.
Group photo
Spanning 27 days across Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhejiang, the offline module comprised five key components: Tsinghua Professional Courses, Stanford Case-based Seminars, AIIB Climate Day, Corporate Visits, and Yangtze River Delta Region Field Study.
The program began with a seminar on climate finance and moved into two weeks of learning at Tsinghua SEM. Renowned faculty members from Tsinghua, Stanford, and AIIB guided academic sessions that intertwined global policy frameworks with China’s experience in green innovation and sustainable development.
Field trip study
From April 7 to 13, the students traveled to Shanghai and Anji County, Zhejiang, for the Yangtze River Delta field study, gaining firsthand insights into China's implementation of high-quality development strategies.
The AIIB Climate Day on April 15 deepened the students' understanding of AIIB's approach to climate finance, sustainable infrastructure, and its broader operational frameworks. The students shared insights, exchanged experiences, and applied their knowledge to real-world challenges in Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs).
Field trip study
In companies like Envision Group, Freshippo, Fosun International, and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the students witnessed how Chinese enterprises are leading in renewable energy, smart logistics, global health ecosystems, and advanced manufacturing.
In the Yangtze River Delta Eco-Green Demonstration Zone, the students discussed large-scale sustainable urban planning. In Yu Village, the students discovered a quiet, thriving countryside far different than what they had imagined, and attended a lecture on China's rural development that sparked deeper reflections on equity, governance, and opportunity. In Anji County, the students saw how traditional agriculture is being reimagined through innovation. They stepped back into history at the Anji National Archaeological Park, and steeped themselves in China's tea culture at the Anji White Tea Farm, before sharing smiles with pandas at the China Bamboo Expo Park. Each stop was more than a visit — it was a moment of insight, an instance of cultural exchange, and often, a spark of inspiration.
Nguyen Dong Anh, a participant from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared his hopes for the program's future. "I think the EPP is an incredible initiative and I really wish that you will run this program for another 10-20 years," he said. "So that more policymakers worldwide can benefit from this, and we can grow into a great network of young, energetic, and soon-to-be-successful friends.”
Group photo at Tsinghua University
Admissions for EPP 2026 are now open.
Source: Executive Education & Institute of Global Development, Tsinghua University
Editor: Ren Zhongxi
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