Christina Liu, former finance minister of Taiwan, is set to discuss banking and monetary policy during COVID and the fallout of the U.S.-China trade war on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the University of Mississippi. Liu also plans to interact with students and offer advice for those interested in careers in international finance. Submitted photo
Christina Liu to examine U.S.-China relations, strategies during COVID-19
The University of Mississippi will host Christina Liu, former finance minister of Taiwan, for two talks next week.
Liu will speak on “The Role of the Central Banker in the World Economy: Monetary Policy During the COVID Crisis” at 2:30 pm Tuesday, October 31, 2023, in the Overby Center auditorium. She will present “The Effects of the U.S.-China Trade War” at 5 pm Wednesday, November 1, 2023, in the Paul B. Johnson Sr. Commons ballroom.
Both events are free and open to the public.
“Dr. Liu has a unique perspective on how policymakers approached the COVID crisis from the point of view of a former finance minister watching her colleagues around the world respond,” said John Conlon, UM professor of economics. “She also spends a lot of time with her extensive contacts in mainland China, as well as in the U.S., so she has a lot to say about the U.S.-China trade war.
“She has very strong and interesting opinions about public policy issues and a lot of wisdom about how to get things done. She is also a very engaging, charismatic speaker.”
Liu serves as a board member for Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., or Foxconn, a Fortune 500 company that is Apple‘s largest manufacturer. She is also managing director of her consulting firm, the Bellwether International Group in Hong Kong.
Liu has extensive experience in the public and private sectors. She served in the public sector as finance minister and minister of the Council for Economic Planning and Development of the Executive Yuan in Taiwan. In the private sector, she was chief economic adviser for Chinatrust Financial Holding and global chief adviser for the Daiwa Institute of Research.
Liu has been a faculty member of many international universities, including China’s Tsinghua University. She received a doctorate and MBA from the University of Chicago.
It was at the University of Chicago that Conlon, who is coordinating the visit, befriended Liu as a fellow graduate student. He said that in addition to her formal remarks, Liu is looking forward to the Q&A sessions and hopes to have a lot of “give and take” with her audiences, especially Ole Miss students.
“As someone who has been heavily involved in policy over the course of her career, I think this will be a great opportunity for our public policy students,” Conlon said. “If you want to grow up and be an important policymaker, she is going to have advice for you.”
Christian Sellar, professor of public policy leadership, said that Liu would be a “fantastic mentor” for any young woman who is thinking about taking a leadership position.
“Dr. Liu is an accomplished academic and politician who managed to have a really stellar career both in finance, but also as an active official,” Sellar said. “I believe that her example will be inspiring to all students who aspire to any kind of leadership position both in policy and in the private sector.”
By Erin Garrett
