The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) together with the ASEAN Committee in Tokyo (ACT), which consists of the ASEAN Ambassadors to Japan, organized the ASEAN 53rd Anniversary Symposium online under the theme of “Beyond Covid-19: Moving into the New Normal” where participants joined from both Japan and ASEAN Member States.
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“Beyond Covid-19: Moving into the New Normal”
The Symposium was opened by H.E. Mr. Myint Thu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Japan and ACT Chair. Ambassador Myint Thu called for ASEAN and Japan to effectively address emerging challenges together and to implement countermeasures against the impact of global pandemic.
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After the opening remarks, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN, delivered his keynote address. Dato Lim reassured that ASEAN’s determination to fight the pandemic remained strong through decisive, targeted, and measured actions. Quoted examples include, the establishment of “COVID-19 Response Fund” and the “ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies”; and the adoption of the “Hanoi Plan of Action on Strengthening Economic Cooperation and Supply Chain Connectivity in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic”.
Dato Lim also acknowledged that the post-pandemic world would present fundamental changes in the way ASEAN economic activities were structured. There are five possibilities to deal with this: First, the realization of the greater importance of cross-cutting issues; second, accelerated emerging trends such as digitalization; third, focus on intra-ASEAN trade and investment; fourth, focus on its competitiveness as an investment destination and a trade and production hub; and finally, strengthening the utilization of FTAs.
During the panel discussion in the latter part of the symposium with international production networks (IPN) being the main theme, Dr. Fukunari Kimura, Professor, Faculty of Economics, Keio University and Chief Economist, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), shared his view that Asia Pacific economies were currently experiencing both supply and demand shocks, which will be followed by another huge demand shock with forcedly reshuffled production networks. Professor Kimura also presented a tentative policy framework for Member States towards moving into the new normal classified into (i) emergency responses (ii) exit policies and (iii) policies for the new normal.
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