Prof. Li is also a Distinguished Chair Professor in Development Studies at China Agricultural University, Chair of the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST), and of China International Development Research Network supported by DFID.

He is Standing Trustee of Chinese Agriculture Economics Society, Trustee of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, advisor of China Association for NGO Cooperation, Deputy General Secretary of the China Women’s Studies Society, member of advisory committee of the State Council for poverty reduction, of the All Women’s Federation in China, of the ESRC/DFID in UK, of the One in Africa, and of the Rising Power Initiative IDS/DFID. His work covers development intervention, gender and development, poverty reduction, climate change, international development aid, China’s foreign aid, and Africa’s agricultural development. He was granted with the China Poverty Reduction Award, Youchange Poverty Research Award, China’s philanthropic Thinker 2015, China’s Social Responsible Award 2016, and the national honor of China Poverty Reduction Award 2017. He has been a senior expert for the Chinese government, the World Bank, ADB, UN, EU, GIZ, DFID and other agencies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He was visiting Professor at LSE and Oslo University and visiting Fellow at Germany Institute for Development.