Pan-Beibu Gulf Think Tank Summit 2020-2020 Events

Pan-Beibu Gulf Think Tank Summit 2020

As COVID-19 injects uncertainty into the world economy, how can the Pan-Beibu Gulf countries advance regional industry chain and further promote economic cooperation under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework, while accelerating economic recovery? The Pan-Beibu Gulf Think Tank Summit 2020 aims to provide insights of the RCEP agreement and deliver practical recommendations for business and public policy leaders.

On Oct 15, 2020, the Pan-Beibu Gulf Think Tank Summit, themed “Regional Connectivity for Shared Prosperity”, was held in Nanning, China, with international speakers attending via online conferencing system. Although global economy was impacted by the pandemic, panellists agreed that China-RCEP trade and economic cooperation uptrend is expected to continue with the integration and maximization of different modes of transportation, while boosting economic recovery and employment. Bilateral trade and investment activity will be further supported by the RCEP free trade agreement, while assuring a stable and safe local and regional supply chain. In addition, emerging industries like digital economy, maritime economy and big data could become the new drive for regional economic cooperation.

Since 2006, PBG Economic Cooperation Forum has been successfully held for 11 editions with the support of international think tanks and research institutes. Over the years, the forum has contributed significantly to China-ASEAN relation. As the parallel conclave of the PBG Economic Cooperation Forum, this year’s PBG Think Tank Summit provided a platform for sharing ideas and views among state leaders, senior government officials, business leaders and renowned scholars from China and the ASEAN countries in its 6th edition.

14:00-14:10Opening Remarks

Guo Wanda (Executive Vice President, China Development Institute)

14:10-15:50Interconnected Land-Sea Development and Further Opening-up

While Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiation enters the final phase, new models of interconnected land-sea development should be explored with the goal to facilitate free trade, promote regional development, as well as accelerate post-Covid economic recovery.

Moderator: Guo Wanda (Executive Vice President, China Development Institute)

Panelists:

Simon Tay (Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs)

Hu Zheng (Former Vice President, China Merchants Group)

SuthiphandChirathivat (Executive Director, ASEAN Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)

Ma Yu (Director, Department of Foreign Investment, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, P.R. China)

Yose Rizal Damuri (Head, Department of Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia)

Luo Yuze (Deputy Director, Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Development Research Centre of the State Council of China)

Lye Liang Fook (Senior Fellow, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore)

Michael Yeoh (Chief Executive Officer, Kingsley Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, Malaysia)

Q&A

15:50-17:30Advancing Regional Industry Chain, Especially in Emerging Industries

The stability and sustainability of global supply chain was greatly tested during the pandemic, raising the challenge of securing and advancing the regional industry chain among Pan-Beibu Gulf countries. Furthermore, how can PBG countries give full play of the booming digital economy and blue economy and collaborate in the emerging industries?

Moderator: Ma Yu (Director, Department of Foreign Investment, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, P.R. China)

Panelists: