On Oct 9, the China-OECD LLM Programme on Taxation holds its first on-site opening ceremony since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On Oct 9, the China-OECD LLM Programme on Taxation (COTP) held its first on-site opening ceremony since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program is a collaborative initiative between Xiamen University (XMU), the State Taxation Administration of China (STA), the Ministry of Finance of China (MOF), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The China-OECD LLM Programme on Taxation is the first collaborative educational programme between XMU and the Chinese ministry and international organizations as part of XMU's journey into a new century of development. The two-year program is designed to train highly qualified, multi-disciplinary professionals with expertise in international tax for China and other developing countries and regions.

Zhang Zongyi, president of XMU, welcomed all distinguished guests, teachers, and new students at the ceremony. He said that XMU will adopt a more open approach, innovative theories, and practical actions to deepen cooperation with all parties involved and ensure the high-quality development of the project.

Zhang also expressed the university's commitment to making greater contributions to the building of a top-tier international program in tax law and the cultivation of outstanding professionals in international tax law.

Dr. Achim Claus PROSS, deputy director of the OECD Center for Tax Policy and Administration, said that the launch of the COTP program marked a new milestone in cooperation between the OECD and Chinese tax and financial authorities and academia. This program will help the OECD, the STA, and the MOF fulfill their shared vision of providing the educational underpinnings for current and future generations of tax officials working on international tax matters and provide them with a solid foundation to adapts to fast-paced development.