2023-11-30-亚开行-为集体行动的新时代加强区域合作与一体化——2022年区域合作与融合大会论文集_82页_4mb

2022 Regional Cooperation and Integration Conference Summary

Core Content

The 2022 Regional Cooperation and Integration (RCI) Conference was held in Bangkok from 23 to 25 August 2022 in a hybrid format. Over 200 stakeholders from ADB developing member countries, regional institutions, development partners, and the private sector participated. The conference aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and integration through strategic dialogue, knowledge sharing, and exploring new initiatives.

The proceedings of the conference reflect the interim findings of ADB's Strategy 2030 Operational Priority 7 (OP7) on fostering regional cooperation and integration. It also outlines new sectoral and thematic directions, operational opportunities, and policy innovations to enhance RCI across the Asia-Pacific region.

ADB remains committed to deepening and expanding RCI in the region, with a focus on climate change, regional public goods, and digital transformation. The conference emphasized the importance of inclusive and sustainable development through collective action and collaboration.

Main Objectives

The conference had three broad objectives:

1. Present the interim findings of ADB's Strategy 2030 Operational Priority 7 and obtain participants' views, perspectives, and guidance.
2. Identify new sector and thematic directions, operational opportunities, and innovations to expand and deepen RCI.
3. Explore improvements and new ways to conduct RCI, connecting more diverse stakeholders across a wider area to make it more inclusive.

Key Themes and Priorities

1. Climate Change

• Climate change is identified as the biggest and most urgent long-term development issue in the region.
• ADB aims to be the climate bank for the region and make climate change the leading operational area for RCI.
• RCI work will help align, synergize, and leverage nationally determined contributions for greater mutual benefit.
• Climate change will be a cornerstone of future RCI conferences.

2. Regional Public Goods

• The conference highlighted the importance of regional public goods such as health cooperation and climate change and disaster management.
• ADB is committed to strengthening regional health security by:
  • Bolstering the health sector's ability to cope with outbreaks nationally and across borders.
  • Effectively applying international health regulations.
  • Removing critical constraints to national and subregional compliance with health security protocols.

3. Digital Transformation and Trade

• Digital transformation is a key focus area for RCI, with potential to improve productivity and inclusive growth.
• Digital trade and digitization of supply chains were emphasized for improved accessibility and trade facilitation.
• The conference also explored free trade agreements (FTAs) and preferential trade agreements (PTAs) as important tools for regional economic integration.

4. Infrastructure and Connectivity

• High-quality connectivity infrastructure was identified as a priority, including:
  • Hard infrastructure: roads, railways, maritime, and air transport.
  • Soft infrastructure: regulations, energy transmission, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
  • Information and communication technologies (ICTs): digital infrastructure and regulations.
• Cross-border logistics and electronic cargo tracking systems (ECTS) were discussed as ways to enhance regional connectivity.

Key Outcomes and Recommendations

• Participants recommended making the RCI Conference an annual event to strengthen the RCI community and encourage sustained collective action.
• ADB was urged to focus on different roles as the secretariat of RCI groups, including:
  • Financier.
  • Mobilizer of cofinancing from development partners and the private sector.
  • Knowledge provider.
  • Honest broker.
• ADB should promote more open RCI beyond well-established subregional initiatives.
• There was a call to increase participation from other stakeholders such as the private sector, local governments, and development partners.
• ADB should work with countries, subregions, and beyond to develop a robust RCI pipeline of projects and initiatives.

Conference Structure

The conference spanned three days with a variety of sessions and discussions:

• Day 1: Focus on the midterm review of OP7, trends and thematic priorities, and RCI research and innovation.
• Day 2: Covered future directions for connectivity infrastructure, regional trade and investment, and public goods.
• Day 3: Addressed green finance for RCI and economic growth, summary and conclusion, and closing remarks.

Key Stakeholders and Contributions

• Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Thailand's Minister of Finance, praised ADB's role in promoting RCI and shared Thailand's active participation in regional programs.
• Woochong Um, ADB's Managing Director General, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and ADB's multifaceted role as a secretariat, financier, and knowledge provider.
• Various panelists and speakers from ADB, the World Bank, UNESCAP, and other institutions contributed to discussions on digital trade, climate change, green finance, and regional connectivity.

Conclusion

The conference underscored the critical role of RCI in achieving economic growth, sustainability, and inclusivity in the Asia-Pacific region. It highlighted the need for strategic planning, inclusive participation, and innovative approaches to address regional challenges. ADB is positioned to continue playing a leading role in fostering RCI through technical expertise, financial support, and collaborative engagement with regional and international stakeholders.