Tag: ADB-PRC Seminar Series

The Role of Local Governments in Promoting High Quality Growth

Under the High-Quality Growth agenda, the PRC seeks to rebalance its economy by addressing the negative side effects of a long period of unprecedented economic growth, and local governments will have a key role to play in the implementation of that agenda. At this webinar, Hans van Rijn, Principal Public Management Specialist, ADB, and Ehtisham Ahmad, Professor, London School of Economics will analyze some critical aspects of the fiscal and institutional environment in which local governments operate, and propose areas for strengthening local government finances. Special attention will be given to the policy implications of the 14th FYP and the post-COVID-19 recovery efforts.

How to Join

Register via Zoom. 

8:45 – 9:00Opening
Yolanda Fernandez Lommen, Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission
9:00 – 9:10Welcome Remarks
M. Teresa Kho, Director General, East Asia Department (EARD), ADB
9:10 – 9:50Presentations
Hans van Rijn, Principal Public Management Specialist, Public Management, Financial Sector, and Regional Cooperation Division (EAPF), EARD, ADB
Ehtisham Ahmad, Professor, Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics
9: 50 – 10:05Discussants
Emma Fan, Director, Public Management, Financial Sector, and Regional Cooperation Division, EARD, ADB
10:05 – 10:25Summary / Discussions
10: 25 – 10:30Closing

Financial Sector Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions in the PRC

Professor Yiping Huang, a renowned economist from Peking University, will present the results of a recent study on the PRC’s financial sector development. The study endeavored to address the role of the PRC’s financial market in supporting the “China Miracle” over the past few decades but also the challenges it developed. Professor Huang will discuss the need to (i) continue the financial sector reform to free up the market development potentials from decades of financial repression and improve the financial market conditions and overall economic development, (ii) improve supervisory and regulatory regimes to ensure financial stabilities, (iii) promote financial innovations and development such as in digital finance and green finance, and (iv) achieve a balance among market innovation, regulation, and market stability.

How to Join

Online via Zoom. Meeting ID: 998 2787 4860; Password: g9U80wSb

Features and Recent Evolution of Corporate Debt in the PRC

Ninghua Zhong, Professor and Head, Department of Economics and Finance, School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, discussed factors contributing to the high corporate debt level in the PRC, reforms taken, and COVID impact, using various datasets including 4 million firm observations.

Speaker
Ninghua Zhong

Ninghua Zhong

Professor and Head of the Department of Economics and Finance at the School of Economics and Management, Tongji University

Building with Nature in the PRC: Dujiangyan Water Resource Management System

East Asia Department (EARD)’s Xiaoyan Yang on 5 August introduced the oldest functioning dam-free water diversion project in the PRC that finely balances structural measures, natural environment and human wellbeing. EARD Qingfeng Zhang provided the opening remarks, while the PRC’s Ministry of Water Resources Wenjun Hu joined other panelists in the seminar attended by over 80 participants.

Healthy Cities in the Post-Covid-19 Era: Healthy Communities, Urban Planning, and Covid-19

The COVID-19 outbreak has led to a new normal way of life and raised the awareness that public health is fundamental to urban life. The pandemic has reemphasized the urgency and importance of building healthy and resilient cities. The webinar series “Healthy Cities in the Post COVID-19 Era” will focus on healthy cities, and discuss how to plan and reshape our cities and communities into healthy and resilient against public health emergency from various angles, including urban planning and designing, inclusiveness and equity, health impact assessment, healthy buildings.

The first webinar session is on “Healthy Communities, Urban Planning, and COVID-19,” and supported by ADB East Asia Department,  College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, and ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative.

Opening Remarks:

James Lynch, Director General, East Asia Department, ADB

LI Xiangning, Dean, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

Keynote Speaker:

Ann Forsyth, Ruth and Frank Stanton Professor of Urban Planning at Harvard University, Editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association, and Co-Director of the Healthy Places Design Lab

Moderator:

WANG Lan, Professor, Deputy Dean, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University; Director, Healthy City WLan Lab

Panelists:

LIU Daizong, China Director of WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities Director of Communications for WRI China, World Resources Institute (WRI)

YU Yifan, Professor, Department of Urban Planning, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University

ADB Urban Strategy and Operations

Arnaud Heckmann, Principal Urban Development Specialist, East Asia Department, introduced two urban development projects in the Ger areas in Ulaanbaatar with comprehensive solutions which showcase innovative approaches and unique financing mechanisms highlighting ADB strategic vision and policy dialogue in urban planning.

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