Shanghai, November 14, 2025– The "2025 NYU Shanghai Asian REITs Conference & EM Institute of Cities and Real Estate in Emerging Markets (ICREEM) New Book Launch," co-hosted by the NYU EM Institute of Cities and Real Estate in Emerging Markets (ICREEM) at NYU Shanghai and the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, and co-organized by China Southern Fund and Shenwan Hongyuan, concluded successfully today at NYU Shanghai's New Bund Campus in Pudong. The event attracted nearly 300 distinguished guests from leading domestic and international universities, the real estate sector, and the finance industry.
Opening Insights on the Future of Asian REITs
The conference commenced with opening remarks from Jeffrey Lehman, Vice Chancellor of NYU Shanghai, and Angie Kamath, Dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies. They welcomed all attendees and emphasized the critical importance of maintaining a long-term perspective and strategic thinking in the development of China's REITs industry. This was followed by addresses from Marc Norman, Dean of the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, and Guohua Jean Zhang, Executive Dean of ICREEM at NYU Shanghai. They highlighted the institutes' commitment to REITs education and research, underscoring NYU's longstanding tradition of deeply integrating academic scholarship with practical application. They also expressed gratitude to the members of the ICREEM Advisory Council and all partners for their strong support.
Global Foundations and China's REITs Landscape
The substantive sessions began with presentations from two distinguished NYU real estate finance professors, Scott Robinson and Manish Srivastava. They provided an in-depth analysis of the evolution of U.S. REITs, the latest trends, and two of the most critical issues: REITs valuation and corporate governance. Their insights offered a valuable global framework for the subsequent discussions on Chinese REITs and the future of China's real estate market.
Focusing on China's REITs landscape, a series of keynote speeches were delivered by prominent industry leaders:
- Mr. Ding Liye, Chairman of印力集团 (Yinli Group)
- Ms. Alfreda Zeng, Chief Operating Officer of Ping An Real Estate
- Ms. Wang Xin, Chief Investment Officer of CapitaLand Investment (China)
- Professor Du Lihong, Jointly Appointed Professor at NYU Shanghai and Partner at Beijing Beta Consulting Center
They shared expert perspectives on capital operations and REITs transformation for commercial real estate enterprises, insurance capital's REITs investment strategies and asset management methodologies, cross-regional and cross-sector REITs management models and their local application in China, and the financial and valuation performance of REITs in Asia and Mainland China.
Deep Dives Through High-Level Dialogues
Professor Chen Guodong of the NYU Shanghai Business School and Mr. Zhou Yisheng, a Jointly Appointed Professor at NYU Shanghai and Executive Partner of GAOHERA Capital, moderated two high-level roundtable discussions on the theory and practice of Chinese REITs. Eleven distinguished panelists participated, representing the main REITs asset sectors and professional domains:
- Sector Representatives: Ms. Fu Chen (Shanghai Regional General Manager, China Resources Vanke Youcun - Multi-family), Ms. Zhang Songyue (Head of China C-REITs, GLPC - Logistics), Mr. Wang Wei (Commercial Real Estate), Mr. Jin Xiangyu (Head of C-REITs, GDS - Data Centers).
- Industry Experts: Mr. Wu Chenyao (Senior Partner, Dentons - Legal), Ms. Li Chen (Tax Partner, KPMG China - Tax), Ms. Xu Wenmei (Head of REITs Management Department, China Southern Fund - Fund Management), Ms. Gong Pan (Managing Director, Fixed Income Finance Headquarters, Shenwan Hongyuan - Securities), Mr. Yang Zhi (Head of Valuation & Advisory Services, Beijing, Cushman & Wakefield; Leader of Asset Securitization - Valuation).
Through these dialogues, they vividly illustrated the investment management, capital operations, and asset management strategies of REITs across different Chinese sectors, providing a profound analysis of the product features, institutional frameworks, challenges, and broad market prospects of China's REITs.
The Future of Real Estate in China
Centered on the theme "REITs and the Future of China's Real Estate Market," the conference also featured pivotal discussions on the current state and future trajectory of the broader market. Heavyweight guests Mr. Feng Lun (Founder of Vantone Group), Mr. Ding Liye, and Mr. Sun Jian (General Manager of BTG Homeinns Hotel Group) delivered significant speeches on REITs, the real estate market landscape, and the residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors.
A highlight was the "NYU Shanghai Rome Forum," a captivating dialogue between Mr. Luo Liping (President of Chengdu Wide Horizon Investment Group) and Mr. Ma Yin (Founder and CEO of Aranya), expertly moderated by Professor Rong Hang of NYU Shanghai. Their exchange was both insightful and thought-provoking.
New Knowledge Launch
With the strong support of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Press and East China Normal University Press, ICREEM successfully launched two new publications: "The Theory and Practice of Real Estate REITs: An International Perspective"and "The Guodian Chu Slips 'Laozi' and the Evolution of Laozi's Thought."The book signing event was exceptionally popular, exceeding all expectations.
A Platform for Collaboration and Impact
The conference organizers extend sincere gratitude to the chief partners, China Southern Fund and Shenwan Hongyuan, for their invaluable support, including a detailed seminar on REITs listing and issuance procedures. Thanks also go to the design and consulting partner, Urban Regeneration, and all other supporting partners.
By convening over 30 senior professors, scholars, and industry leaders, this conference established a vital platform for deep dialogue and exchange between academia and industry. It is poised to play a positive and far-reaching role in fostering the healthy development of China's REITs market and guiding the strategic transformation of the nation's real estate sector.