Yuchao Xu

Scholar background

Yuchao is a young professional currently serving as an intern in New Delhi, India with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific in the Office for South and South-West Asia (ESCAP-SSWA). In this role he supports research projects related to disaster risk reduction, trade facilitation, and regional economic integration. A core focus of ESCAP-SSWA is to assist countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Prior to his UN internship, Yuchao worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Urban Management Studies, an affiliate of the Guangzhou Academy of Social Science. In this role, he worked on international metropolitan strategies for Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Areas, and drafted a report titled “Guangzhou City population and strategies to 2050”.

Yuchao completed his Bachelor of Public Administration at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China. He then went on to earn his Master of International Affairs from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy through the Hinrich Global Trade Leader Scholarship Program in 2022.

Personal statement

Having studied for five years to comprehend China’s public policy, I developed a strong interest to be an analyst of China policy formulation and its potential global impacts.

During my undergraduate, other than actively participating in various research projects in Guangdong Province, I also received scholarships to participate in exchange programs in California, New York, Israel and Taiwan to gain a global perspective. In 2019, I worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Urban Management studies, a think tank in Guangzhou. Our team proposed strategies for maintaining steady and sustainable population growth for Guangzhou City till 2050, as Guangzhou has been under the pressure to secure its rank within the Greater Bay Area. These experiences have inspired me to delve deeper into the field of international affairs and apply for Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS.

Singapore, as a major trading and business hub, has been linked to ASEAN members, China, and India geographically, and to Australia and the US strategically, serving a unique vantage point for examining global issues. In the era of post-COVID-19, global trade, especially the supply chain of essentials, needs to be reviewed in a more holistic and dynamic framework. How to balance economic sovereignty and sustainable trade will be a heated topic globally.

At this very moment, I am very honored to receive this scholarship from the Hinrich Foundation. Outstanding scholars and alumni of the Foundation will provide me insights from their perspectives, aspiring me to learn, to grow, and eventually to be a strong advocate for sustainable global trade.

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