Seminar & Lecture Series
Advancing the Regional Flyway Initiative: Lessons from the People's Republic of China
26 May 2026 - 27 May 2026 Manila, Philippines
Senior officials from developing member countries, experts from the PRC, ADB Board members and specialists, and representatives from international organizations participated in the seminar Advancing the Regional Flyway Initiative: Lessons from the People’s Republic of China on 26-27 May in HQ. Participants examined the PRC’s experience in wetland conservation and explored how successful approaches can be scaled across the Asia and the Pacific region. The seminar marked the fifth session of the East Asia Department-led Talk China series under the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative.
In opening remarks, Executive Director Hongxia Li highlighted the PRC’s guiding philosophy and experiences in integrating ecological protection with high-quality development, advancing innovation, and strengthening partnerships—including collaboration with ADB. Vice-President for East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, Scott Morris spoke about ADB’s work on the Regional Flyway Initiative, which addresses multiple dimensions of development, such as environment, biodiversity, climate, pollution, sustainable livelihoods, poverty reduction, and social development.
Agenda
| Date/Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:00–09:20 | Opening Session Moderator: Lin Lu, Advisor, East Asia Department, ADB Opening remarks
|
| 09:20–09:50 | Keynote Speech
|
| 09:50–10:10 | Group Photo Tea Break |
| 10:10–11:30 | Panel Discussion 1: Insights from the PRC’s Regional Flyway Initiative Journey Moderator and Presenter: Zhiming Niu, Lead Project Officer, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, ADB Panelists:
Q & A |
| 11:30–13:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30–14:45 | Panel Discussion 2: Beyond the PRC: Scaling Success Moderator and Presenter: Duncan Lang, Principal Environment Specialist, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, ADB Panelists:
|
| 14:45–15:00 | Tea Break |
| 15:00–16:15 | Panel Discussion 3: Shared Mission, Stronger Together: Partnering with International Organizations Moderator: Au Shion Yee, Principal Water Resources Specialist, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, ADB Presenters:
Q & A |
| 16:15–16:20 | Closing Remarks Muhammad Ehsan Khan, Director General, East Asia Department, ADB |
| Date/Time | Session |
|---|---|
| The Ideas Lab: A Brainstorm with ADB Sector Groups, Regional Departments and International Partners | |
| 09:00–09:20 | Scene Setting Opportunities Presentations—RFI Site Studies Duncan Lang, Principal Environment Specialist, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, ADB |
| 09:20-09:30 | ADB Existing RFI Project Pipeline Au Shion Yee, Principal Water Resources Specialist, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, ADB |
| 09:30-10:00 | Facilitated Break-out Session—Discussions on Opportunities |
| 10:00–10:15 | Tea Break |
| 10:15–10:30 | Facilitated Break-out Session—Conclusions |
| 10:30-11:00 | RFI Opportunities—Nature Credits Guy Williams, International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Advisor, ADB External Expert |
| 11:00-11:20 | Nature Credits—Open Discussion |
| 11:20-11:30 | Closing Remarks |
