NEWS & EVENTS

Meeting the Challenge of COVID-19 in Asia

On March 3rd, the Reischauer Center convened a virtual conference on “Meeting the Challenge of COVID-19 in Asia,” in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). President Masatsugu Asakawa of the ADB delivered the keynote address that focused on the ADB’s response to COVID-19. He stressed that in addition to the ADB’s $9 billion dollar Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX), the organization is also providing immediate response through grants and support for the private sector. Following his remarks, two panel discussions covered various dimensions of the global and regional challenges of COVID-19, including vaccine production and distribution, reopening Asian economies, food security, digitalization, an environmental reset, and infrastructure.

Ambassador David Shear, Senior Fellow at the Reischauer Center, moderated the first panel on “Exiting the COVID-19 Crisis,” with presentations from four experts: Dr. Yasuyuki Sawada, Chief Economist of the ADB; Dr. Eduardo Banzon, health specialist of the ADB; and health and food policy specialists Dr. Jessica Fanzo and Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo from Johns Hopkins University. Health systems strengthening, the need for regional and global cooperation for public goods such as vaccines, and the importance of smart lockdowns in cities were major themes from this first panel.

Mr. Joseph E. Zveglich Jr., Deputy Chief Economist of the ADB, moderated the second panel titled “The Great Reset in Asia,” featuring Johns Hopkins public health specialist Dr. Martin Bloem; former US Ambassador to the ADB, and faculty of Johns Hopkins SAIS Cinnamon Dornsife; Chief of ADB’s Digital Technology for Development Unit Thomas Abell; and former director of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Division in United Nations ESCAP Dr. Mia Mikic. Key themes included bridging the divide in regional connectivity, sustaining international assistance to developing countries, and building the infrastructure needed to address future pandemics.

Dr. Kent Calder, Director of the Reischauer Center, provided concluding remarks for the event highlighting the unique opportunities and challenges facing Asia, as well as the region’s global responsibility moving forward.