08:00am – 08.30am

Registration

08:30am – 08.35am

Welcome Remarks by Dr Junhong Chang, Director of AMRO

08:35am – 08.50am

Keynote Address by Dr Yaobin Shi, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance, China & Madam Thipphakone Chanthavongsa, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance, Lao PDR

08:50am – 10.15am

Panel 1: Regional Outlook and Policy Responses
East Asia has continued to be a relatively bright spot in the global economy. However, the recent slowdown of the global economy, divergent macro-economic policies of major economies, anaemic international trade, and low commodity prices have cast a shadow on East Asia’s outlook. Although the region is expected to be able to steer through these cyclical challenges, East Asian economies need to examine their domestic structural weakness to secure a sustainable and robust economic growth. In view of new environment, what can policy makers do to address both cyclical and structural challenges, maintain economic stability and reinvigorate the region’s potential growth?

Moderator: Dr Hoe Ee Khor, Chief Economist of AMRO

Panel Speakers: (5 minutes for each)

– Chikahisa Sumi, Director, Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, IMF
– Mr Juzhong Zhuang, Deputy Chief Economist and Deputy Director General of the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, ADB
– Mr Ming Zhang, Director of Department of International Investment, Institute of World Economics and Polictics (IWEP) under Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
– Mr In-Chang Song, Deputy Minister, International Affairs of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of Korea
– Dr Yoichi Nemoto, President, Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance of Japan
– Mr Mathee Supapongse, Deputy Governor of Monetary Stability, Bank of Thailand

Discussion

10:15am – 10.30am

Group Photo Session, Coffee break

10:30am – 12.25am

Panel 2: ASEAN+3 Financial Cooperation – New Opportunities and Challenges, Future Direction
Since the East Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, ASEAN+3 financial cooperation has deepened and a lot have been achieved. Among others, the CMIM has been further upgraded in 2014, with a crisis prevention facility, 30% of IMF de-linked portion, and double in size to USD 240 billion. AMRO was re-established as an international organization, effective from 9 February 2016. However, there are lingering doubts on the effectiveness of CMIM. AMRO’s surveillance and other functions have yet to undergo critical tests. This panel will conduct stock-taking on the progress and developments of CMIM and AMRO and identify the main challenges. At the same time, it may review the recent discourse of the Global Financial Safety Net (GFSN) and developments of other Regional Financial Arrangements. Lastly, possible future directions and policy recommendations will be drawn on how to enhance the effectiveness of CMIM and how to increase AMRO’s service and influence in the ASEAN+3 region.

Moderator: Mr Benhua Wei, Senior Director of International Monetary Institute, Academic Committee of Renmin University of China

Panel Speakers: (5 minutes for each)

– Prof Masahiro Kawai, Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo. Director and Director General, Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA)
– Dr Yongding Yu, Academician and Senior Fellow of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
– Prof Yungchul Park, Distinguished Professor, Division of International Studies, Korea University
– Prof C Randall Henning, Professor of School of International Service, American University
– Dr Rolf Strauch, Management Board Member of the European Stability Mechanism and the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF)
– Dr Perry Warjiyo, Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia
Mr Diwa Guinigundo, Deputy Governor, Monetary Stability Sector, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
– Mr Masatsugu Asakawa, Vice Minister, Ministry of Finance of Japan

Discussion

12:25pm

Closing Remarks by Dr Bandid Nijathaworn, the Chair of AMRO Advisory Panel

12:30pm

Lunch Buffet