ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½

The 2026 Suzhou Finance Conference (SFC)

23 ¨C 24 June 2026

Department of Finance

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ (ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½)

Suzhou, China

Sponsors

International Business School Suzhou, ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½

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National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC No. 72342022)

Welcome from the University President

Distinguished Guests, Colleagues, and Friends,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ (ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½) for the 2026 Suzhou Finance Conference (SFC). ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ occupies a unique position at the intersection of Eastern and Western academic excellence and best practice, and we are proud to host this gathering of distinguished scholars, visionary policymakers, and seasoned practitioners from around the world to exchange insights, explore innovations, and shape the future of finance.

Located in Suzhou, one of China's most vibrant and forward-looking cities, blending centuries of cultural heritage with the energy of a modern, globally connected economy. It provides an ideal backdrop for examining the evolving landscape of finance, banking, and financial stability in an era of rapid technological change and geopolitical complexity.

At ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, we firmly believe that the future of business and finance lies in embracing intellectual collision, breaking organizational boundaries, and fostering symbiotic development through the integration of diverse cultural perspectives, academic disciplines, and real-world business ecosystems. This conference embodies that very spirit. I am truly delighted that so many of you have chosen to join us, share your wisdom, and contribute to the important conversations that lie ahead.

I wish you productive deliberations, stimulating conversations, and a truly enjoyable stay at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½ in beautiful Suzhou.

Professor Youmin Xi

Board Member and Executive President

Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½)

Welcome from the Dean of IBSS

Dear Delegates,

?Welcome to International Business School Suzhou! We are truly honoured to host the 2026 Suzhou Finance Conference (SFC), an event that brings together bold ideas and world-class expertise in the heart of one of China's most vibrant cities.

IBSS has grown rapidly to become one of the leading business schools in China and Asia, holding triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA ¨C a distinction shared by less than 1% of business schools worldwide. Our research community is committed to producing scholarship that makes a real difference to practice and policy.

The Department of Finance at IBSS is at the forefront of research in banking, asset pricing, corporate finance, fintech, and sustainable finance. This conference provides an invaluable platform for our academic staff to engage with the global research community and to showcase the exciting work being done right here in Suzhou.

I hope you find the conference both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding. Beyond the academic programme, I encourage you to explore the UNESCO-listed classical gardens, ancient canals, silk markets, and culinary delights that make Suzhou such a special destination.

Professor Eddy Fang

Dean, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½)

Welcome from the Conference Convenor

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to International Business School Suzhou! We are truly honoured to host the 2026 Suzhou Finance Conference (SFC), an event that brings together bold ideas and world-class expertise in the heart of one of China's most vibrant cities.

IBSS has grown rapidly to become one of the leading business schools in China and Asia, holding triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA ¨C a distinction shared by less than 1% of business schools worldwide. Our research community is committed to producing scholarship that makes a real difference to practice and policy.

The Department of Finance at IBSS is at the forefront of research in banking, asset pricing, corporate finance, fintech, and sustainable finance. This conference provides an invaluable platform for our academic staff to engage with the global research community and to showcase the exciting work being done right here in Suzhou.

I hope you find the conference both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding. Beyond the academic programme, I encourage you to explore the UNESCO-listed classical gardens, ancient canals, silk markets, and culinary delights that make Suzhou such a special destination.

Professor He, Xuezhong (Tony)

Dean, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

Xi¡¯an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½)

Acknowledgement of Country

The conference organisers acknowledge the communities and peoples of Suzhou and the broader Jiangsu region whose histories, cultures, and contributions have shaped this remarkable city and region. We pay respect to all who have contributed to knowledge creation and cultural exchange across generations in this part of China.

We also acknowledge the international community of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world whose diverse perspectives and expertise advance our collective understanding of finance and financial stability.

Conference Organisers (Sorted by Surname)

Professor Stephen Gong

Head of Department of Finance

FinTech, Role of the media, Textual analysis in accounting and finance, Corporate finance and corporate governance

Professor Xuezhong He

Department of Finance

?Asset pricing, information economics, market microstructure, financial market modelling

Dr Xiaomeng Shi

Assistant Professor

Department of Finance

Banking regulation, Corporate finance

Dr Yajun Xiao

Senior Associate Professor

Department of Finance

Banking, corporate and finance, Macro finance, Asset pricing, FinTech

Dr Xingzhi Yao

Associate Professor

Department of Finance

Risk management, Asset and Derivatives Pricing, Volatility forecasting

Dr Ning Zhang

Assistant Professor

Department of Finance

Financial risk modeling and management, Asset pricing

Keynote Speaker ¨C Wednesday 24 June

Professor Xiong, Wei

?John H. Scully ¡¯66 Professor in Finance and Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics and the Bendheim Centre for Finance, Princeton University

Wei Xiong is the John H. Scully '66 Professor in Finance and Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and Bendheim Centre for Finance, Princeton University. He is also Academic Dean of the School of Management and Economics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, as well as Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. He received his PhD in finance from Duke University.

His research interests center on capital market imperfections, behavioral finance, digital economy, and the Chinese economy. He has published extensively in top academic journals, including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, American Economic Review, Review of Economic Studies, Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, and Journal of Financial Economics.

He served as Co-Editor of Journal of Finance (the flagship journal of the American Finance Association) in 2016-2022, and was elected a Fellow of the Econometric Society in 2023. He has received various awards, including the 2018 China Economics Prize, the 2014 Inaugural Sun Yefang Financial Innovation Award, the 2013 NASDAQ OMX Award by Western Finance Association, and the 2012 Smith Breeden Award (first prize) by the American Finance Association.

Title of Address: Mandarin Capitalism

Programme -Industry Sessions ¨C Tuesday 23 June 2026

Programme-Academic Sessions ¨C Wednesday 24 June 20

Sessions

Presenters and discussants are requested to upload their presentation files in PowerPoint or PDF format onto the session room PC before the start of their sessions.

Each session runs for 100 minutes and has two paper presentations ¨C 50 minutes per paper.

Each 50-minute block is structured as follows:

• Paper presenter: 30 minutes of presentation
• Discussant: 15 minutes of discussion
• Session participants: 5 minutes of Q&A

The session chair is responsible for ensuring that the session starts and finishes on time, that presenters have a 30-min presentation, and that the Q&A session is efficiently run.