Purpose

The dialogue is intended for a panel discussion on the major findings and recommendations on the four major studies of ADB and/or ADBI in the area of Asia's regional cooperation and integration.

Background

The global financial crisis intensified the need for regional cooperation and integration in Asia. As economies seek to rebalance their sources of growth, deeper integration of Asian markets will support the expansion of intraregional trade and domestic demand, and will strengthen the resilience of these economies.

The dialogue will examine the main findings of four major ADB/ADBI studies on regional cooperation and integration in Asia. The dialogue will seek inputs from experts on how these findings and recommendations can be translated into action that will support greater Asian integration. The brief descriptions of the studies are as follows:

Emerging Asian Regionalism: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity outlines the nature of Asia's emerging economic integration and cooperation, as well as the opportunities and challenges it poses. Its key message is that Asian regionalism is a partnership for shared prosperity, which is good for individual countries, Asia, and the world.

Infrastructure for a Seamless Asia analyzes the challenges in developing regional infrastructure, particularly transport and energy infrastructure (both hard and soft), through regional cooperation. It evaluates existing regional infrastructure programs, policies and institutions, and outlines recommendations to address key challenges, including a framework for pan-Asian infrastructure cooperation.

Rebalancing for Sustainable Growth-Asia's Postcrisis Challenge examines the challenges posed to Asian economies by the global financial crisis. It presents policy recommendations for reorienting Asian growth toward more balanced and sustainable development. and identifies structural issues and policies that can help Asian policymakers foster domestic and regional demand for sustainable long-term growth.

Institutions for Integration: Toward an Asian Economic Community takes stock of Asia's existing institutions for regional integration and discusses the major institutional reforms and innovation required to shape a regional institutional architecture conducive to form an Asian economic community in the future. The study includes recommendations to improve existing institutions and create new ones.

Objectives

• To present the major findings and recommendations on the four major studies of ADB and/or ADBI in the area of Asia's regional cooperation and integration.
• To capture key insights and comments from the participants.

Outputs

A brief 'Dialogue Proceedings' containing the summary of the studies' priority recommendations and key insights/ comments from participants. The Proceedings will be widely disseminated via the ADB Institute website.

Participants

Senior policymakers, academics, and other experts involved in Asian economic cooperation and integration. 30 (estimate)