In the first lecture , East Asia Department’s Hans Van Rijn discussed public financial management’s role in fiscal policy, including its objectives, characteristics of prudent public finance, strategic budgeting, and debt management approaches.
Hao Zhang, ADB Beijing office, presented ADB’s Strategy 2030, and its operations and portfolios in the PRC. The lecture focused on project operational cycle including programming, project preparation, and implementation.
East Asia Department’s Ying Qian shared with students the development of cross-border economic zones, focusing on their various forms, functions, and modalities. He presented case studies of cross-border economic zone development based on ADB’s experience supporting the PRC-Viet Nam and the PRC-Mongolia partnership.
In the fifth lecture on 21 October, East Asia Department’s Hans Van Rijn discussed public financial management’s role in fiscal policy, including its objectives, characteristics of prudent public finance, strategic budgeting, and debt management approaches.
In the sixth lecture on 28 October, East Asia Department’s Sujata Gupta discussed the type, role, constraints, and challenges of developing sustainable infrastructure. She also explained the different stages of infrastructure life cycle, and the reliance on green energy sources, innovative transport technologies and urban design that are important for the future of sustainable infrastructure.
On 23 September, East Asia Department’s Dorothea Lazaro, and Central and West Asia Department’s Xinglan Hu and Kristian Rosbach introduced Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor, Shymkent-Tashkent-Khujand Economic Corridor and the PRC-Mongolia economic cooperation zone as strategies in attracting investments and enhancing countries’ participation in regional value chains.
In this ninth and last session on 2 December, East Asia Department’s Benzhe Tang shared students’ indicated topics of interest which are not covered in the lecture series; development in practice: the case of Singapore and Malaysia; and development from a behavioral perspective. Students also shared challenges from their own countries.
In the eighth lecture on 18 November, Independent Evaluation Department’s Benjamin Graham shared challenges and opportunities faced by developing Asia as it endeavor to transition from middle to high-income status. The discussion drew on evaluations and analyses by ADB and other development partners, and reflected impacts of COVID-19. He also shared successful stories of high-income countries in the Q&A session.
In the seventh lecture on 11 November, Southeast Asia Department’s Sameer Khatiwada shared the landscape of innovation in developing Asia by making use of a detailed micro data on firms. He presented his recent research on the relationship between human capital development and innovation. There are no shortcuts in creating an innovative society. Instead, what is needed are a long-term commitment and a lot of hard work.
Part 2. What Drives Innovation in Asia? in Asian Development Outlook 2020.
In this fourth lecture on 15 October, Marzia Mongiorgi, ADB Beijing office, discussed ADB’s structure, its strategies, and operations in particular the PRC’s evolving sectoral and geographical portfolio. Meanwhile, Lee Ming Tai shared the different stages of a project life cycle, and on-the-ground experience and advice of handling projects and clients.
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