Social Development and Poverty – Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative

Eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum. The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a key sponsor of the Eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum (CTTDF), which will be held on August 27-28, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The forum aims to address regional climate challenges by fostering collaborations for policy recommendations and joint research.

With the theme “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” the forum will focus on global climate governance, balancing economic growth with carbon reduction, and innovative climate finance solutions. Participants will engage in meaningful policy discourse to identify solutions for a climate-resilient region, explore joint research opportunities, and facilitate innovative climate studies beyond mainstream agendas.

The ADB’s involvement underscores its commitment to sustainable and inclusive development in the region. By supporting the CTTDF, the ADB is contributing to the development of innovative climate solutions that can help the region adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Agenda

27 August 2024

Time	Session
8:30 am – 9:00 am	Registration
9:00 am – 09:30 am	Session I: Opening Ceremony Welcome Remarks by Mr. Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute Opening Address by Mr. Yang Yingming, Vice President, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila, Philippines (TBC) Keynote Address by Minister of National Economy, Kazakhstan (TBC) Group Photo
09:30 am – 10:40 am	Session II: Context Setting Assessing the impact of Climate Initiatives: Progress, Pitfalls and Lessons Learned. Johannes F. Linn, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development Program, Brookings Institution, Washington D.C., USA (TBC) Climate change, and adaption and mitigation technologies, call for focused think-tank cooperation. Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute Pathways to Sustainable Development: Achieving High Economic Growth While Minimizing Carbon Footprints. Norbert Funke, Director IMF CCAMTAC, Almaty, Kazakhstan Open Discussion Moderator: Lyaziza Sabyrova, Regional Head, Regional Cooperation and Integration, Asian Development Bank
10:40 am – 11:00 am	Coffee
11:00 am – 12:50 pm	Session III: Asia in the Global Fight Against Climate Change: Capturing Sub-regional Perspectives ASEAN’s Path to Net Zero: Policy Framework, Supporting Initiatives, and the Pathway. Ms. Marthe M. Hinojales, Senior Economist, Regional Surveillance, ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), Singapore Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): Enhancing Synergies and Subregional Cooperation for Climate Resilient and Net Zero Development. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director, Mekong Institute, Thailand CAREC Region’s Climate Vulnerabilities: Policy Options for a Sustainable Future. Iskandar Abdullaev, IWMI (International Water Management Institute) Country Representative for Pakistan Decarbonizing Global Value Chains in CAREC: Impact of the EU’s CBAM on CAREC Economies. Altynay Arapova, Economist, Regional Cooperation and Integration, Asian Development Bank Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) in the CAREC Region: Need for a Regional Framework for Sustainable Extraction. Roman Vakulchuk, Head of Climate and Energy Research Group Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Oslo, Norway CAREC Climate Change Action Plan: Integrating Climate Change into CAREC Program Themes. Khalid Umar, Regional Cooperation Specialist, CWRC, ADB Open Discussion Moderator: Mr. Sergei Ulatov, Deputy-Managing Director, EFSD”
12:50 pm – 2:00 pm	Session IV: CTTN Research Grants Program (RGP) Presentations: From Ideas to Impact: Accelerating Climate Solutions through Innovative Development Innovative Perspectives: Exploring Opportunities in Emissions Trading Systems for CAREC Countries. Giorgi Khishtovani, Research Director, PMC Research Center, Georgia Climate Change in Kazakhstan: State Policy and Public Awareness. Azimzhan Khitakhunov, Senior Research Fellow, Eurasian Research Institute of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Turkish-Kazakh University, Kazakhstan Optimizing Financial Architecture by Overcoming Challenges to Implement Emission Trading Mechanisms in the CAREC Region. Ummara Razi, Lecturer and Research Associate, ILMA University, Pakistan Designing Policy Support for Climate-smart Trade in the CAREC Region. Hadiqa Tanveer, Lecturer, Bahria Business School, Pakistan Carbon Pricing in Central Asia: Opportunities and Barriers: The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic. Aijan Sharshenova, Executive Director, Crossroads Central Asia, Kyrgyz Republic Open Discussion Moderator: Dr. Siddarth Saxena, Chairman, Cambridge Central Asia Forum, UK
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm	Lunch @ Ballroom
3:00 pm – 4:10 pm	Session V: Innovative Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Technological Disparity: Bridging the Gap Between Advanced and Developing Economies. Dr. Xianchun Tan, professor of Institutes of Science and Development, vice-director of the Center for Carbon Neutrality Strategy, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASISD) Scalable Solutions I: Greening Economic Corridors, Production, and Trade. Mr. Kumar Utsav, Country Director, ADB Kazakhstan Resident Mission Scalable Solutions II: Green Hydrogen: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy. Ms. Dina Azhgaliyeva, ADBI Developing Innovation Ecosystem: Impact of the Made in China 2025 Industrial Strategy on Green Innovation. Dr. Asif Razzaq, Senior Researcher, CAREC Institute Open Discussion Moderator: Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CAREC Institute”
4:10 – 4:30	Coffee @ Foyer
4:30 pm – 6:00	Session VI: Local Solutions for Climate Resilience Azerbaijan Case Study. Vusala Jafarova, Chief Advisor at the Strategic Planning Division, Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), Azerbaijan China Case Study. Li Cangshu, Associate Research Fellow and Coordinator of the “Dual Carbon” Project, Center for International Knowledge on Development, China Mongolia Case Study. Tuvshintugs Batdelger, Director, Economic Research Institute, Mongolia Tajikistan Case Study. Jahongir Dehkonov, Director of PO “Fund for Poverty Reduction Turkmenistan Case Study. Mr. Jumamuhammet Geldiyev, Senior Specialist, Division for Financial Analysis of Agro-Industrial Complex, Department for Development and Financing of Economic Sectors Uzbekistan Case Study. Ezoz Ozodov, Manager of the Innovation Cluster for Sustainable Development, “TIIAME” National Research University, Uzbekistan Open Discussion Moderator: TBC (AIIB or Craig)”

28 August

Time	Session
9:00 am – 9:30 am	Registration
9:30 am – 11:00	Session VII: Fixing Climate Finance Bridging Sustainable Financing Gap: Role of Development Partners, Governments, Regulators and Private Finance Entities. Subathirai Sivakumaran, Chief of Section, Financing for Development Section, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Thailand Financial Solutions to Close the Investment Gap in the Drinking Water and Sanitation Infrastructure of Central Asia. Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Centre for Infrastructure and Industrial Research, Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), Kazakhstan Scaling up private climate finance: drivers, impediments, and solutions. Shu (Grace) Tian, Senior Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB Financial Innovation: Startups and Financing Green Technologies in the CAREC Region. Ms. Xiaojing Fei, Co-host of Impact Hub Asia-Pacific Open Discussion Moderator: Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, ADB”
11:00 am – 11:20	Coffee @ Foyer
11:20 am – 12:30 pm	Session VIII: CAREC Think Tank Voices Panel Discussion on Navigating Political and Business Landscape: Achieving Financial Sustainability and Fostering Institutional Growth Suat Beylur, Director, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan Abid Suleri, Executive Director/Advisory Council Committee Member of COP29, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan Mr. Shahin Sadiqov, Director, Economic Scientific Research Institute, Azerbaijan Mariam Lobjanidze, Acting Lead Economist, ISET Policy Institute, Georgia Dr. Indira Satarkulova, Acting Director, OSCE Academy in Bishkek Open Discussion Moderator: Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director II, CAREC Institute”
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm	CTTN Progress Report CTTN Progress and Initiatives by the Secretariat Dilraba Adil, Planning Specialist, CAREC Institute Suggestions and Feedback on CTTN Moderator: (From CI or Khalid)
1:00 pm – 1:10 pm	Closing Reflections and Acknowledgements by Dr. Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director, CAREC Institute
1:10 pm – 2:30 pm	Lunch

CAREC Institute Announces 4th Annual Research Conference on Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is proud to support the 4th Annual Research Conference of the CAREC Institute (CI), themed “Rethinking Development Strategies: Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development for the CAREC Region.” This conference, co-organized by the College of Social Sciences and the China & Central Asia Studies Center at KIMEP University, along with the ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI), will take place on August 29-30, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The ADB’s involvement underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive development in the CAREC region.

The primary objective of the conference is to connect research and policymaking, fostering regional development by systematically documenting policy-oriented research and creating narratives specific to the CAREC region. The event will showcase research findings, discuss their policy implications, and culminate in the publication of selected research in CI’s Annual Book and relevant journals.

By addressing regional developmental challenges, proposing innovative policy recommendations, and enhancing regional research cooperation, the conference aims to improve policy relevance and impact across the CAREC region. Comprehensive materials, including session details, speaker biographies, and presentation summaries, will be provided to all participants.

We look forward to your participation in this important event.

Agenda

29 August 2024

Time	Session
9.15–10.00	Registration/CI Video to be screened
10.00–11.00	OPENING SESSION Opening Remarks Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute (CI) Damian Riviez, Vice President of Academic Affairs, KIMEP University Kadir Basboga, Senior Regional Integration& Trade Promotion Economist, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Keynote address Johannes F. Linn, Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution Group Photo
11.00–11.30	Coffee break
11.30–13.00	Parallel Session I: Energy/Renewable Energy/Sustainable Energy Hall #1, 2nd floor Moderator Vladislav Zavadskiy, Senior Energy Expert, CI Speakers: Burulcha Sulaimanova, Dina Azhgaliyeva, Hans Holzhacker “House insulation: needs and willingness in Central Asia” Qiong Zhang, Dina Azhgaliyeva “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks: Total Cost of Ownership Analysis for the People’s Republic of China” Ubaid ur Rehman Zia, Mahnoor Arshad, Zainab Babar “Sustainable Energy Transition in South Asia: Challenges and Emerging Opportunities through Regional Collaboration” Hu Sheng, “PhotoSynthetic Refining: heavy oil slurry bed hydro-splitting full conversion technology” Ramil Shakirov, “Electrical Digital Twin: Enabling Safety & Sustainability for today & future”, Schneider Electric Discussant: Ramil Shakirov, Head of the Training Center, Schneider Electric
	Parallel Session II: Green Initiatives/Climate and Environment Moderator Asif Razzaq, Senior Research Specialist, CI Speakers: Falendra Kumar “Unlocking Innovative Governance Practices and Public-Private Financing for Achieving Sustainable Green Energy Transition in the CAREC Region: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications” Hua Wang, Yingqing Lai, Yixin Yao “How Factors Affect Carbon Emission Price: Case Study of Beijing Carbon Emission Market” Iskandar Abdullaev, Shakhboz Akhmedov “Water Security in Central Asia – Adaptation Strategies for Climate Resilience” Ding Chen, “Dynamic connectedness between FDI, economic activity, energy consumption and CO2 emissions in Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) countries: The mediating role of institutional quality” Naseem Faraz, Ghulam Samad “Climate Debt and Sustainability: Implication for CAREC Region” Anton Merkulov, “Smart integration of renewable power generation as a key factor of green initiatives implementation”, Siemens Kazakhstan Discussant: Shu (Grace) Tian, Senior Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB
	Parallel Session III: Trade/Connectivity/CorridorsTrade/Connectivity/Corridors Moderator Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI Speakers: Yinghao He, Yueshu Zhao “The Economic Shadow of CBAM: Assessing Trade Impacts on Central Asia and the South Caucasus Farrukh Khakimov “Digital Readiness of Central Asian States for Cross-Border Paperless Trade: A Study on Digital Infrastructure and Regional Connectivity” Qaisar Abbas “Digital Trade, Economic Corridors Development: Need for Innovative Strategies” Ali Raza Hanjra “Enhancing Port Competitiveness and Regional Trade in Pakistan along the CAREC Corridor: Role of the Government Support” Discussant: Xiaotong Zhang, Academic Director at China and Central Asia Studies Center (CCASC)
13.00–14.00	Lunch
14:00–15.30	Parallel Session IV: Inequality and Inclusivity Moderator Ilhom Abdulloev, Chief of Capacity Building Division, CI Speakers: Kuat Akizhanov “Addressing Socio-Economic Inequality in the CAREC Region: Why Non-Orthodox Approach Is Needed” Kaliyeva Saule, Elvira Buitek “Competencies and Skills Essential for Green Jobs” Emmanuel Umoru Haruna, Vincent Tawiah “Does Income Inequality endanger Green growth? Evidence from selected countries in Asia and the Global South” Adeel Kadri “Breaking Chains: Informal Employment in CAREC and Escaping the Middle-Income Trap” Madina Junussova, Saniya Soltybaeva, Bakhytzhan Kurmanov “Urban Economic Resilience in Central Asian Cities” Discussant: Alma Kudebayeva, KIMEP University
	Parallel Session V: ADB-PRC RKSI Evidence from the CAREC Corridor Performance Measurement and Monitoring Database Moderator Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB Speakers: Kijin Kim “The Impact of COVID-19 Mobility Restrictions on Trade Facilitation at Borders in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region” Dorothea Ramizo “Impact of Non-Tariff Measures and Border Crossing Time and Costs on Trade in Perishable Goods in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Region” Kamalbek Karymshakov “Trade Facilitation, Infrastructure, and International Trade in Central Asian Countries” Ghulam Samad “Geographical Proximity and Trade Impacts in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program Region” Discussant: Max Ee, CPMM consultant
	Parallel Session VI: Innovation/innovative solutions Moderator Hans Holzhacker, Chief Economist, CI Speakers: Abylaikhan Soltanayev “Living Labs as Catalysts for Sustainable Energy Transition in Central Asia” Kinza Malik “Modelling the Effect of FDI on Economic Growth in Central Asia: The Role of Digitalization” Asif Razzaq “Does Artificial Intelligence Improve Green Transformation? Mechanism Analysis of China’s A-share Listed Companies and Implications for CAREC Ladder Countries” Merdan Yazyyev “Innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on energy efficiency, renewables, and digitalization” Liu Bingcai “Evaluation of the Co-benefits and Trade-offs of Solar+ Projects and Their Prospects for Application in the CAREC Region” Michiko Enomoto “Fostering Innovation and Development in Central Asia” Discussant: Nurgali Rakhmanov, President “Digital Society” NGO, S/GPP Policy Expert
15.30–16.00	Coffee break
16.00–17.30	Panel Session: Rethinking Development Strategies: Green, Innovative, and Inclusive Development for the CAREC region Soo Hyun Kim, The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Kadir Basboga, Senior Regional Integration & Trade Promotion Economist, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Nadeem Naqvi, Professor of Economics, KIMEP University Marthe M. Hinojales, Senior Economist, AMRO+ Jang Ping Thia, Lead Economist and Manager of Economics Department Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

30 August

Time	Session
10.00–10.10	Special Session Introduction of the CAREC Institute Knowledge Products Jingjing Huang, Deputy Director, CI Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director, CI
10.10–10.30	CI’s Book Launch “PROSPECTS FOR INCLUSIVE GREEN GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CAREC REGION” Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director, CI Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI
10.30–11.00	CI and UNESCAP Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation Report Launch Soo Hyun Kim, The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Ghulam Samad, Chief of Research Division, CI

Joint CAREC-PRC and Second ASEAN-PRC Digital Economy Workshop: Empowering Digital Future

The global economy is rapidly changing, driven by emerging technologies that promote resource efficiency, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. Digital technologies play a crucial role in this transformation, offering solutions to challenges like poverty, healthcare, job creation, and environmental protection. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools, demonstrating their potential to connect people and businesses even in crises.

The CAREC region, however, faces significant challenges in harnessing the benefits of the digital economy due to inadequate digital infrastructure and unclear regulations. To address these issues, the CAREC Secretariat, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and partnering with the CAREC Institute and UNESCAP, developed the CAREC Digital Strategy 2030. This strategy serves as a roadmap for accelerating digital transformation and unlocking the region’s potential.

The CAREC Institute, with support from ADB and other organizations, has conducted research and engaged policymakers in dialogues on digitalization. Recognizing the importance of digital economy, the People’s Republic of China has made significant strides, with its digital economy value reaching 6.5 trillion US dollars by 2021.

To further promote digital economy in the CAREC region, the CAREC Institute will collaborate with ADB, the CAREC Secretariat, and Chinese government entities to launch a capacity building program aimed at enhancing digital economy cooperation and promoting digital connectivity. This initiative aligns with the CAREC Digital Strategy’s vision and mission, seeking to equip member countries with the necessary tools and knowledge to realize the full potential of the digital economy for inclusive economic growth, social well-being, and enhanced regional competitiveness.

Agenda

Week 1 (20–26 May)


20 May (Monday)
Morning	Opening Ceremony Zhoushan Jianghong, Vice President of Zhejiang University Kabir Jurazoda, Director, CAREC Institute (Online) Shuzhong Ma, Dean and Distinguished Qiu Shi Professor of the China Academy of Digital Trade at Zhejiang University Moderator: Gong Sen, Director, Center for International Studies on Development and Governance (CiSDG), Zhejiang University
	CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 (Online) Dorothea Lazaro, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, ADB Central and West Asia Department CAREC Digital Economy Development: challenges and policy recommendations Rovshan Mahmudov, Senior Capacity Building Specialist, CAREC Institute
Afternoon	Practice and Pathway in China’s Development of Digital Economy Yuezhou Cai, Director and Researcher of the Digital Economy Research Office, Institute of Quantitative & Technical Economics at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Night	Ice-breaking: Participants will introduce themselves, express their expectations on the Workshop and raise their questions concerning digital economy. Participants will be grouped, and each group will prepare for delivering a presentation on Day 12.
21 May (Tuesday)
Morning	On-site: Zhejiang’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Construction China Mobile (Zhejiang) Innovation Research Institute China’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Construction: History and Experience Jun Lei, Senior Project Expert and Senior Engineer of the Smart Home Operations Centre and Integrated Communication Systems Department of China Mobile Ltd
Afternoon	The Application of Metaverse Technology in the Digital Economy Era Xuguang Zhang, President of the Zhejiang Association for Science, Technology and Innovation, Distinguished Researcher of the Intelligent Education Research Centre at Zhejiang University
Night	The New Generation of Artificial Intelligence: from AlphaGo to ChatGPT Fei Wu, Director and Qiu Shi Distinguished Professor of Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Zhejiang University
22 May (Wednesday)
Morning	On-site: Evolution towards Intelligent Education Transformation Xianghu Future School and Hailiang Limited Co., Ltd.
Afternoon	On-site: Metaverse Technology, Digital Collectibles and Global Distribution of Digital Content Zhejiang Zoland Animation Co., Ltd.
Night	Practices, Experiences and Challenges in the Development of Digital Economy in Asian, CAREC and ASEAN Economies Yoonee Jeong, Senior Digital Tech Specialist (Digital Infra & Economy), Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD), ADB
23 May (Thursday)
Morning	On-site: Cloud Computing: Current Landscape and Future Directions – From Emulation to Innovation Alibaba Cloud Computing Co., Ltd. – Hangzhou Branch
Afternoon	Intelligent Transformation of Manufacturing Industry Wenge Liu, Dean and Professor of the School of International Economics and Politics at Liaoning University
24 May (Friday)
Morning	On-site: 3D+AI Tools for Propelling the Global Fashion Industry’s Digital and Innovative Evolution Zhejiang Linctex Digital Technology Ltd.（Style3D）
Afternoon	Exemplary Cases of Intelligent System Design Yongchuan Tang, Deputy Director of China Digital Creative Technology Equipment Innovation Industrial Alliance, Professor of the School of Computer Science and Technology at Zhejiang University
Night	Networking: Global Digital Economic Cooperation, Digital Economic Development Opportunities and Digital Technology Solutions (Arranged by the World Digital Economy Forum (WDEF), Hangzhou Digital Ecological Building and representative enterprises in the area of digital technology solutions)
25 May (Saturday)
Daytime	Digital Economy-focused Industry Tour to Shaoxing: Enterprise Digital Transformation, Rural Livestream E-commerce and Traditional Culture Zhejiang Toman Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd——Lunch——China Pearls and Jewelry International City——The China Shaoxing Wine Museum——Dinner (Arranged by Shaoxing Council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Shaoxing Chamber of International Commerce and representative enterprises in Shaoxing)
26 May (Sunday)
	Off

Week 2 (27 May–2 June)


27 May (Monday)
Morning	Digitalization of Government Services for a Better Business Environment in China: A Case Study on the Reform Experience of Zhejiang Province Wenting Wei, Private Sector Specialist, World Bank in China The Construction Process of Digitalization of Government Services in Zhejiang Yongsheng Shen, General Manager of Zhejiang Daily Digital Technology (Zhejiang) Co.,Ltd., General Manager of Hangzhou City Brain Co.,Ltd.
Afternoon	On-site: Zhejiang’s Practice in Building a Digital Government: Hangzhou City Brain Zhejiang’s Practice in Intelligent Industrial Transformation: Zhejiang Top Cloud-agri Technology Co., Ltd
28 May (Tuesday)
Morning	Sustainable Social Innovation and Governance of Digital Divide Lijie Fang, Professor of the School of Social Research at the Renmin University of China
Afternoon	Constructing Rules for an Opened Global Digital Economy System Xianhai Huang, Changjiang Distinguished Professor and Vice President of Zhejiang University
Night	Networking: Integration and Cooperation of Asian Civilisations in the Digital Age (Arranged by Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS) and the International Campus of Zhejiang University)
29 May (Wednesday)
Morning	Financial Innovation in the Context of Digitalization – Micro Connect: The Wall Street for SMEs Zhong Wu, Secretary-General of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation, Senior Advisor of Micro Connect and Chairman of Hong Kong Oriental Patron Financial Group
Afternoon	Networking: Global Trade of Cultural Goods and Services in the Digital Era (Arranged by the 20th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF), Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone and representative enterprises in the area of international cultural goods and services)
Night	On-site: Digital Industry Investment and Live Streaming Economy
30 May (Thursday)
Morning	On-site: Zhejiang’s Footprint in E-commerce: A Dive into the Corporate Ecosystem and Development Experiences 1688.com and Taobao of Alibaba Group
Afternoon	Digital Transformation, Global FinTech Trends & Opportunities for Emerging Markets Shenglin Ben, Dean and Professor of the International Business School, Director of the Fintech Research Institute at Zhejiang University
Night	Networking: (Arranged by Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS), the International Campus of Zhejiang University and representative enterprises in Jiaxing)
31 May (Friday)
Morning	Experiences and Practices in the Development of Digital Economy in CAREC and ASEAN Economies, Insights from the Workshop and Suggestions Group Reports by the Workshop Participants
Afternoon	Concluding Session and Commencement of the Workshop Sen Gong, Director and Professor of the Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance at Zhejiang and Zhejiang University (CiSDG)
Night	Closing Ceremony Sen Gong, Director and Professor of the Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance at Zhejiang and Zhejiang University (CiSDG) Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, Principal Country Specialist, East Asia Department, ADB Kuat Akizhanov, Deputy Director Two, CAREC Institute ASEAN Secretariat
1 June (Saturday)
Daytime	Digital Economy-focused Industry Tour to Yiwu Participants will explore the Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Co., Ltd., and other digital economy infrastructure projects. Participants will also explore the eWTP Public Service Platform and the integrated online-offline services of the China Goods digital trade platform to gain insights into the opportunities and challenges that Yiwu’s procurement and trade industry faces in the digital era.
2 June (Sunday)
	Off

East Asia Forum 2024

This year’s East Asia Forum (EAF) will explore ways the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and ADB can foster partnerships in addressing regional challenges related to climate change with a special interest in promoting global and regional public goods in ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs).

The Forum has four sessions. The first explores strategic ways the PRC and ADB can further evolve their partnership in tackling regional challenges including climate change. The second and third focus on two critical parts of climate as public goods and explore best practices for promoting them. Specifically, Session 2 focuses on nature conservation and ecosystem protection, and how instruments like nature-debt swaps can be a viable financing instrument to help DMCs meet their commitments to conserve 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. Session 3 centers on addressing climate mitigation through accelerating the energy transition from fossil fuel powered energy to clean energy, drawing on international practices related to energy policy, investments, and transition financing. The fourth session discusses how artificial intelligence can support addressing regional challenges. Specifically, it looks at emerging best practices in strategy, policy, and regulation to enhance the potential benefits of AI while mitigating its potential costs.

Each session will comprise a keynote speaker setting the context and regional challenges and followed by an interactive panel discussion comprising of distinguished experts.

In addition to the four sessions, ADB will also launch its publication “Echoes of Success: Case Studies in the Replication of Asian Development Bank Projects in the People’s Republic of China“. The report presents five ADB-financed projects in the PRC that have been replicated within and outside the PRC.

Agenda

19 September (Thursday, Beijing time)

Date/Time	Session
8.30-9.00	Registration
9.00-9.15	Opening Messages Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), ADB Weihua Liu, Executive Director, ADB
9.15-10.45	1. The PRC and ADB Partnership for the Asia and Pacific Region Chair: Safdar Parvez, Country Director, ADB Resident Mission in the PRC Presentation: The PRC-ADB Strengthening Cooperation to Tackle Regional Challenges Yiping Huang, Dean, National School of Development, Peking University Panel Discussion: Creating Partnerships for Addressing Regional Challenges Yu Bin, Vice President (Vice Minister), Senior Fellow, Development Research Center of the State Council, the PRC Scott Morris, Vice-President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), ADB Weihua Liu, Executive Director, ADB Ayumi Konishi, Senior Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Q&A
10.45-11.00	Break
11.00-12.30	2. Nature Conservation as a Regional Public Good Chair: Duncan Lang, Senior Environment Specialist, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD), ADB Presentation: Strategies for Nature Conservation and Viable Financing Instruments for Conversing Nature Mingjia Yuan, The Nature Conservancy Beijing Representative Office Nicole Arditti, Global Sovereign Advisory Panel Discussion: How Can We Leverage Financing Instruments to Meet the Global Conservation Goal of 30% of Land and Marine Resources Protected by 2030? Ning Liu, Deputy Director General, Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Ecology, the PRC Wei Shen, Director of Green Belt and Road Center, International Institute of Green Finance, Central university of Finance and Economics, the PRC Rachel Thompson, Executive Director, ADB Uranchimeg Ts., Director General, Natural Resources Policy and Coordination Department, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Mongolia Mingjia Yuan, The Nature Conservancy, Beijing Representative Office Nicole Arditti, Global Sovereign Advisory Q&A
12.30-14.00	Lunch
14.00-15.30	3. Energy Transition as a Global Public Good Chair: Toru Kubo, Senior Director, Climate Change, Resilience, and Environment, CCSD, ADB Presentation: International Practices for Accelerating the Energy Transition Andrew Jeffries, Advisor, Energy Transition Mechanism and Partnerships, Sector Group, ADB Panel Discussion: Creating Partnerships for Advancing the Energy Transition in ADB’s Developing Member Countries Guiying Sun, General Manager, On-lending Department, Export-Import Bank of China Edo Mahindra, Special Advisor to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Indonesia, and Chairperson of Indonesia Energy Transition Implementation Joint Office Junjie Kang, Deputy Director, Climate Change and Energy Transition Program, Institute of Energy, Peking University Helmut Fischer, Executive Director, ADB Andrew Jeffries, Advisor, Energy Transition Mechanism and Partnerships, Sector Group, ADB Q&A
15.30-17.00	4. Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Global Best Practices in Strategy, Policy, and Regulation Chair: Ozzeir Khan, Director, Information and Technology Department (ITD), ADB Presentation: Setting the Context Stephanie Hung, Director General, ITD, ADB Panel Discussion: How AI Can Be Supportive in Tackling Regional Challenges Stephanie Hung, Director General, Information and Technology Department, ADB Chen Hui Ong, Assistant Chief Executive (Business-Technology Group), Infocomm and Media Development Authority of Singapore Talal Ikhwan, Head, KPMG Digital Village, Singapore Xudong Chen, Chairman and General Manager of IBM, Greater China Group Zheng Liang, Deputy Director, China Institute for Science and Technology Policy, Tsinghua University Q&A
17.00-17.05	Closing Remarks Muhammad Ehsan Khan, Director General, East Asia Department, ADB
17.05-17.20	Break
17.20-17.50	Publication Launch: “Echoes of Success: Case Studies in the Replication of Asian Development Bank Projects in the People’s Republic of China” Message from Scott Morris, Vice President (East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), ADB
17.50-18.50	Results Reality Booth
18.50-20.50	Dinner

20 September (Friday, Beijing time)

Field Visit to Project Site – Nature Conservation

ADB and UNDRR Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR 2030) City-to-City Learning Forum on Developing Urban Disaster Resilience

Cities and urban communities around Asia and the Pacific are facing an era of unprecedented uncertainty, with climate-induced disasters becoming more frequent, intense, and unpredictable. Over the past three decades, extreme weather events have accounted for 90% of all disasters, posing significant threats to urban areas through intensified storms, coastal flooding, deadly heatwaves, water shortages, and prolonged droughts. At the same time, local authorities face other systems-wide crises, in terms of water, food, and energy security. The Political Declaration of the midterm review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in May 2023 reiterates the extreme challenges to hand and conveys a deep concern that the pace of implementation is not sufficient or equal. The gaps at the local and urban level are particularly large.

In response to these challenges, municipalities across Asia Pacific are scaling up their ambitions and actions on disaster resilience to protect their citizens and local infrastructure assets and systems. The Political Declaration of the midterm review of the Sendai Framework calls for scaled up support and action at the local level, urging countries to:

Support and enable all local authorities to have disaster risk reduction strategies and local platforms for disaster risk reduction, or similar mechanisms, in place;
Ensure the provision of financial assistance, technical support, and capacity development to strengthen local multi-hazard risk governance and local government leadership on disaster risk reduction;
Promote local ownership through community-based disaster risk management approaches and whole-of-society engagement; and
Promote exchanges and peer learning between cities through increased participation in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative.

Register via Zoom.

Meeting venue

Agenda

29 July (Monday)

Time	Program
08:00 – 09:00	Registration
09:00 – 09:10	Opening Remarks Norio Saito, Senior Director, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of Office Incheon, United Nation Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (Online speaker)
09:10 – 10:40	Theme 1: Showcasing Urban Solutions – SDGs in Action at the Municipality Level Moderator: Mr Andy McElroy, Global Coordinator MCR2030, UNDRR Speakers: Ms Deborah C. Dacanay, Head of Quezon City Persons with Disability Affairs Office, Philippines – Quezon City Community Inclusive Disaster Preparedness Interventions (SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities) Ms Susana Sousa Gonçalves, Director of Civil Protection Matosinhos, Portugal – Putting Communities at the Heart of Resilience Action (SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities) Ms Sung Ah An, Public Officer, Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea – How Incheon Effectively Manages Increasing Heatwave Risk (SDG 13 Climate Action) Q&A session
10:40 – 10:55	Coffee Break
10:55 – 12:25	Theme 2: Financing Urban Disaster Resilience Moderator: Mr Jinqiang Chen, Urban Development Specialist (Climate Change), Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB Speakers: Ms Liza Ramos, Research and Planning Division Head, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Makati City, Philippines – How is Makati Developing Innovative Financing Options for Resilience (Online speaker) Ms Jazlyn Lee, Engagement Lead for Southeast Asia & South Asia, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the Gap Fund Partnership – Empowering Cities to Transform Climate Ideas into Action through the City Climate Finance Gap Fund Mr Thomas Kessler, Principal Finance Specialist (Disaster Insurance), ADB – Building Climate and Disaster Resilient Cities – Risk Management, Financing and Insurance Q&A session
12:25 – 12:30	Group Photo
12:30 – 14:00	Networking lunch
14:00 – 15:30	Theme 3: Learning from MCR2030 Resilience Hubs Moderator: Mr Alessandro Attolico, Executive Director of the Territorial Planning and Civil Protection Office at the Province of Potenza, Italy Speakers: Dr Kathy Oldham OBE, Chief Resilience Officer, Greater Manchester, the UK – How Greater Manchester Works with Nature as Part of Flood Risk Management (Online speaker) Mr Jieyong Luo, Resilient City Officer for the City of Zhuji, PRC – Building a Resilient River City – Zhuji’s Practice in Governing and Transforming Puyang River to Enhance Flood Resistance Mr Stefan Wagner, Head of the Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability, City of Bonn, Germany – Connecting the Green Agenda from National to Local Level (Online speaker) Q&A session
15:30 – 16:00	Coffee break
16:00 – 18:00	Theme 4: Learning from Asian Development Bank Moderator: Ms Jingmin Huang, Director, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB Speakers: Mr Khen Sopheak, Deputy Director of Inter-Sectoral Division of Kep Provincial Hall, Cambodia – City-to-City Partnership on Resilient City Development Ms Yingxia Xie, Former Vice President, Professor, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design – Urban Resilience Evaluation Method and Index System Ms Arpita Mozumder, Assistant Engineer, Planning Unit, Local Government Engineering Department, Bangladesh – Coastal Towns Climate Resilience Project in Bangladesh Mr Ming Hu, Senior Engineer, Director of Movement Control Office, Fuzhou Urban Water System Joint Drainage and Coordination Centre – One Center Manages the Entire City, Digitization Ensures Safety: Innovative Practices of the Fuzhou Water System’s Coordinated Management Mechanism Q&A session
18:00 – 20:30	Networking dinner

30 July (Tuesday)

Time	Program
09:00 – 10:30	Theme 5: Strengthening National-Local Coordination Moderator: Ms Susana Sousa Gonçalves, Director of Civil Protection Matosinhos, Portugal Speakers: Mr Alessandro Attolico, Executive Director of the Territorial Planning and Civil Protection Office at the Province of Potenza, Italy – Long Term Strategy for Effective Risk Governance Mr Aslan Kandygulov, Director of the Center, Urban Environmental Sustainability Center, Astana, Kazakhstan – Resilience Action Plan for a 21st Century City Mr Ali Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, Kulhudhuffushi City Council, Maldives – Strengthening Local Capacity with MCR2030: A City’s Sustainable Approach to Building Resilience Q&A session
10:30 – 10:45	Coffee break
10:45 – 12:15	Theme 6: Identifying solutions to major urban disaster resilience challenges Moderator: Ms Deborah C. Dacanay, Head Persons with Disability Affairs Office, Philippines Speakers: Mr Hee Jong Kim, Director Ulsan Research Institute, Republic of Korea – Forging Multisector City Partnerships for Resilience Mr Thayukorn Prabamroong, Director of Climate Change, Mitigation, Adaptation Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Thailand – How the Thai Network for Disaster Resilience of 17 Universities Supports Local Governments to Reduce Disaster Risk Ms Sofia Karma, Dr Chemical Engineer, Academic Staff National Technical University of Athens, Greece, Director of the European Center for Forest Fires, EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement/Council of Europe – Recommendations for Managing Urban Heatwaves and for Inclusivity in Disaster Preparedness and Response Q&A session
12:15 – 13:30	Networking lunch
13:30 – 15:00	Orientation: Disaster Resilience Scorecard Assessments for Cities Introduction: Orientation on two new self-assessment tools to understand capacities and gaps in terms of climate resilience and early warning systems. Group work: Participants will split into two groups and try out one of the tools. Plenary feedback: Participants will share feedback on their discussions and potential deeper dive follow-ups with individual cities will be discussed.
15:00 – 15:15	Coffee break
15:15 – 17:15	Final Session: Moving Forward on Urban Resilience in Asia Moderators: Mr Andy McElroy, Global Coordinator MCR2030, UNDRR Mr Jinqiang Chen, Urban Development Specialist (Climate Change), Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB Mr Xijie Lu, Urban Development Specialist, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB -This moderated session will be a focused group discussion to identify priority areas for collaboration & collective commitment to ensure follow-up action on urban disaster resilience. -How can MCR2030 Resilience Hubs, Asian Development Bank, and cities work better together to strengthen urban disaster resilience – what plans/commitments can be made? -What kind of support is required to deliver on these plans/commitments?
17:15 – 17:20	Closing Remarks: Ms Jingmin Huang, Director, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, ADB
18:00 – 20:30	Networking dinner

31 July (Wednesday)

Time	Program
09:00 – 12:30	Site visit to Guangxi Polytechnic of Construction – The Introduction of Guangxi Polytechnic of Construction, current status and the achievements of the Resilient Cities Development Research Center, Urban Renewal Research Center (Habitat Building Research Center) – Campus visit – Lunch at school cafeteria
12:30 – 14:00	Back to hotel
14:00 – 17:50	Site visit to Guangxi Institute of Safety and Technology – Visit the emergency service station in Xingdong Community, Nanning – Visit Guangxi Institute of Safety and Technology
17:50 – 20:30	Networking dinner

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Building Sustainable Tourism, Ep. 1. Event Highlights

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