Tag: Regional Cooperation and Integration

Driving Change Workshop in the PRC Concludes with Key Lessons on Sustainable Finance

Speakers and presenting participants of the regional workshop, “Driving Change: Lessons from Breakthroughs in Innovative and Sustainable Finance in the PRC,” held in Beijing. The photo includes experts from the People’s Republic of China and representatives from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam, who shared experiences and insights on advancing sustainable finance.

BEIJING, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (23-24 October 2025) – The two-day regional workshop, Driving Change: Lessons from Breakthroughs in Innovative and Sustainable Finance in the PRC, brought together participants from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, and the People’s Republic of China. Organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Beijing, the event convened government officials, regulators, and financial institutions to exchange practical experiences in advancing green and transition finance.

Across eight sessions, participants discussed China’s experience in developing policy frameworks, taxonomies, and innovative financial instruments such as sustainability-linked loans and transition finance. They also examined disclosure practices, digital tools, and sectoral approaches—including agriculture and manufacturing—that can inform strategies in other countries.

Participants learned from China’s pioneering pilots and shared their own policy and market experiences, offering perspectives on how sustainable finance principles can be adapted to different economic contexts. Discussions underscored three key messages: credibility and clear standards are essential to build investor trust, solutions must reflect each country’s unique realities, and regional collaboration can help scale successful innovations.

The workshop concluded with a shared recognition that sustained cooperation and knowledge exchange are critical to accelerating the region’s transition toward sustainable and inclusive growth.

Finance and Technologies for Grassland Ecosystem Restoration

Grasslands are vital ecosystems for both Mongolia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), supporting biodiversity, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of pastoral communities. However, both countries face increasing pressures from land degradation, desertification, and climate change. 

The PRC has implemented a range of large-scale restoration initiatives and ecological compensation schemes, alongside community-based conservation and development practices. These combined top-down and bottom-up approaches have achieved measurable improvements in vegetation cover, ecosystem resilience, and rural incomes. Meanwhile, Mongolia is advancing national strategies through its National Adaptation Plan and investment programs such as the Aimag and Soum Green Regional Economic Development Program, emphasizing grassland ecosystem restoration and sustainable livelihood development for herding communities. 

The seminar, held in conjunction with the visit of a high-level Mongolian government delegation to the PRC, aims to deepen knowledge exchange on effective supportive policies, financial mechanisms, and technologies for grassland restoration and sustainable pastoral management. Discussions will draw on lessons from the PRC’s experience at national and subnational levels and explore opportunities for continued knowledge sharing and collaboration. 

The delegation visit and seminar are supported by the ADB–PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), a South–South platform co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance of the PRC and ADB to facilitate knowledge exchange among ADB’s developing member countries. Under RKSI’s umbrella, the Talk China Seminar Series convenes experts and decision-makers to engage on urgent development themes. 

Language: Chinese, Mongolian, English (Chinese-Mongolian and Chinese-English interpretation will be provided) 

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Date/TimeSession
08:30-08:40Welcome remarks
Mr. Asif S. Cheema, Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission
08:40-08:50Sharing I: Green finance to support grassland restoration and management
Ms. Yan Wang, Director, Green Finance Division, Research Bureau of the People’s Bank of China (TBC)
08:50-09:00Sharing II: Ecological rangeland management
Ms. Keyu Bai, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
09:00-09:10Sharing III: Ecosystem valuation: eco-compensation mechanisms, gross environment product (GEP), and natural capital
Mr. Au Shion Yee, ADB Principal Water Resources Specialist
09:10-09:20Sharing IV: Carbon market development and grassland carbon credits
Mr. Zhi Cheng, Chief Engineer, Ningxia CDM Service Center
09:20-09:30 Sharing V: Social capital mobilization for desertification control
Ms. Jing Sun, Director of Desertification Prevention and Control, Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology (SEE) Foundation
09:30-10:30Discussions
Facilitated by Mr. Aiming Zhou, Deputy Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission
10:30-10:40 Closing remarks
  • Ms. Munkhbayasgalan Luvsanbyambaa, Member of Mongolia State Great Hural/Parliament, and Head of Mongolian delegation
  • Mr. Aiming Zhou, Deputy Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission

East Asia Forum 2025 and Talk China Seminar 

ADB’s East Asia Forum (EAF) is an annual event organized by the East Asia Department (EARD) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The forum aims to share lessons from ADB’s operations and knowledge work in East Asia—with special emphasis on the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—with a wider audience. In the spirit of South-South learning, the EAF facilitates the exchange of ideas and practices among key stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific. It is supported by EARD-administered technical assistance and various funding sources, including the People’s Republic of China’s Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund (PRCF).

The East Asia Forum 2025, with the theme “Advancing High-Quality Development in East Asia: Productivity, Innovation, and Economic Openness,” aims to:

  • Share knowledge and good practices from East Asia on enhancing productivity, driving innovation, and promoting economic openness, notably in the service sector.
  • Discuss key trends in achieving high-quality economic development.
  • Explore innovative practices, policies, and technologies to increase productivity, encourage innovation, and further open economic sectors.
  • Encourage replication of successful experiences from the PRC and other East Asian economies across other ADB members.

The ADB–PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) is a South–South platform jointly established by the Ministry of Finance of the PRC and ADB to promote development knowledge exchange among ADB’s developing member countries. As part of its efforts, RKSI organizes the Talk China Seminar Series, a quarterly event that brings together experts and policymakers to explore pressing development issues. The upcoming session- the third in the series- will focus on harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for high-quality development, featuring expert discussions and field visits to AI sites in Beijing.

Venue: Kerry Hotel, Beijing

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Download Day 1 Presentations
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Agenda

Date/TimeSession
8:30-9:00Registration
9:00-9:30Welcome Remarks
Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Distinguished Guest Speaker
Liao Min, Vice Minister of Finance, People’s Republic of China
9:30-9:35Photo Session
9:35-9:50Setting the Stage: Enhancing Productivity and Openness in East Asia and Beyond
Chong-En Bai, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University
9:50-10:20Coffee/Tea Break
10:20-12:40Session 1: Boosting Productivity through Competition and Innovation: Experience from the PRC and Other Countries

Presentation 1: Boosting Total Factor Productivity through Competition and Innovation: Experience of the PRC
Bert Hofman, National University of Singapore, former Country Director of World Bank, PRC, and former Chief Economist for the World Bank in the East Asia and Pacific region

Presentation 2: Australia’s Experience in Boosting Productivity and Competitiveness
Catie Bradbear, Assistant Commissioner, Australian Productivity Commission

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), ADB

Panelists:
  • Qiong Zhang, Director and Professor, Renmin University of China
  • Elisa Hörhager, Chief Representative China, Federation of German Industries (BDI)
  • Dong Liu, Chairman and Principal Partner of Ping An Capital Co., Ltd.
  • Albert Park, Chief Economist and Director General, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB

Q and A
12:40-2:30Lunch break
2:30-4:30Session 2: Expanding Economic Openness and Service Sector Liberalization in the PRC and Experience from Other Countries

Presentation 1:
Shamshad Akhtar, Chairperson of Board of Directors for Pakistan Stock Exchange; former Minister of Finance, Government of Pakistan; former Executive Secretary of UNESCAP

Presentation 2: Opening the PRC’s Services Industry for Innovative and Shared Development
Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås, Visiting Professor, Örebro University, Sweden; Senior Associate, Council on Economic Policies, Switzerland

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Justine Diokno-Sicat, Alternate Executive Director, ADB

Panelists:
  • Yuze Luo, Deputy Director General, Department of Foreign Economic Research, DRC
  • Cui Fan, Professor, University of International Business and Economics, PRC
  • Arpita Mukherjee, Professor of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (online)
  • Dongsoo Kang, Executive Director, Global Knowledge Exchange and Development Center, Korean Development Institute, Republic of Korea


Q and A
4:30-4:45Closing Remarks
Shu Zhan, Alternate Executive Director, ADB
4:45 onwardsNetworking Reception
Date/TimeSession
9:00-9:10 Opening Remarks
Muhammad Ehsan Khan, Director General, East Asia Department, ADB
Zhan Shu, Alternate Executive Director, ADB
9:10-10:10 Session 1: What Experiences from the PRC Can be Learned and Replicated in the Region

Presentation: Promoting AI Applications for High-Quality Development in the PRC
Tongning Wu, Deputy Director Artificial Intelligence Research Institute China Academy of Information and Communications Technology

Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Aiming Zhou, Deputy Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission

Panelists
  • Sen Gong, Director, Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance, Zhejiang University
  • Patrick Renz, Director’s Advisor, ADB
  • Huijie Zhang, Deputy Director General, Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
  • Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, Member, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Pakistan
10:10-10:30 Tea Break
10:30-11:30 Session 2: How ADB Can Support DMCs with AI Application to Promote High-Quality Development

Presentation: ADB’s Role in Promoting AI Application in the Region
Albert Park, Chief Economist and Director General, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB

Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Bobur Alimov, Advisor, EARD, ADB

Panelists:
  • Boediastoeti Ontowirjo, Deputy Chairman for Research and Innovation Policy, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia
  • Justine Diokno-Sicat, Alternate Executive Director, ADB
  • Yongping Zhai, Senior Advisor, Strategic Development Department, Tencent
  • Antonio G. Zaballos, Director, Digital Sector Office, ADB

Q and A
11:30-13:00Lunch break
13:00-14:00Departure from the Kerry Hotel for site visit
14:00-16:30Site visit: Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics, Beijing High-level Autonomous Driving Demonstration (BJHAD) Zone Innovation and Operation Center, to experience the WeRide Autonomous Bus.
16:30-17:30Return to the hotel
Day 1
Day 2 AM
Day 3 PM (Site Visit)

New Hope: Improving Livestock Business Models within and across Borders

Highlights: Learning from the PRC’s Clean Energy Innovations

This seminar highlights the People’s Republic of China’s advancements in clean energy, exploring how its successful innovations and practical solutions can be replicated by other Asian Development Bank (ADB) member countries. The discussions focused on PRC’s strategic planning in clean energy and ADB’s role in supporting similar projects across the region, including initiatives in energy efficiency and solar. The goal is to foster knowledge-sharing and accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies throughout the region.

The Role of Policy and the Challenges to Address in Implementing Clean Energy

Beyond market mechanisms, technological innovation, and international cooperation, what else is crucial for a successful clean energy transition? Yu Wang, Associate Professor at Tsinghua University’s Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, shares her expert insights.

Highlights: Learning from Greater Beijing on Air Quality Improvement

This seminar, the first in a quarterly series by the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative, focused on air quality improvement, drawing lessons from the People’s Republic of China. It addressed air pollution challenges in developing countries and showcased the PRC’s advanced air quality management experiences, including the Greater Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei program. Policymakers from India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Thailand, and the Philippines shared their insights on national and regional approaches.

Merging Clean Energy into the National Goals and Master Action Plan

Kebin He, Dean of the Institute for Carbon Neutrality at Tsinghua University, People’s Republic of China, breaks down his learnings from DMC member countries and insights from the event. He also explains the importance of including clean energy initiatives into the national goals and the master action plan.

The Clean Energy Transition as a Long Drawn Process

Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Member, Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas in India, shares his insights on learning about air quality improvement from fellow experts and the potential of the ADB-RKSI’s Talk China Series as an innovative platform for knowledge-sharing.
 
 
 

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