PROGRAM
DAY 1 - Monday 15 October 2018
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Arrival and Registration of Participants
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
OPENING CEREMONYMaster of Ceremony: Ms Marcela ToroTalent Artist Management
- Welcoming Speech:
- Introductory Remarks:
- Opening Keynote Address:
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Morning Refreshments / Business Networking
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
PANEL SESSION 1: The New Silk Roads: Great Powers Perspectives
Great Power rivalries occupy a prominent dimension within the New Silk Roads and associated institutions spearheaded by China, especially the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Following US President-elect Donald Trump’s call to cancel the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) there are regional doubts about whether Washington would be able to sustain and even enhance its premier position in Asia by going beyond the military-security aspect of the rebalancing strategy which was first mooted by the Barack Obama Administration in 2012. Beijing’s move of filling this “TPP vacuum” with its own proposals about regional institutions (such as BRI and AIIB) was also perceived to be yet another sign of US decline and growing influence of China. Are such perceptions overblown? What are the roles played by other regional Great Powers such as India and Japan vis-à-vis the BRI, taking into consideration Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “look west” approach to reinvigorate economic and strategic linkages with Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean littorals, including Africa, not to also forget mentioning New Delhi’s drive to create its own analogue in the form of Project Mausam?
ModeratorProfessor Kriengsak CHAREONWONGSAKChairman, National Building Institute of Thailand; Harvard Professorial Fellow; Former Advisor to the Prime Minister and Former Member of Parliament of Thailand
Panellists:Professor Paul Tae-Woo LEE Director, Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Center, Ocean College, Zhejiang University, ChinaDr. Bill YOUNG President, Asia Pacific Federation of Project ManagementDr. Pradeep TANEJA Fellow, Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne
Great Power rivalries occupy a prominent dimension within the New Silk Roads and associated institutions spearheaded by China, especially the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Following US President-elect Donald Trump’s call to cancel the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) there are regional doubts about whether Washington would be able to sustain and even enhance its premier position in Asia by going beyond the military-security aspect of the rebalancing strategy which was first mooted by the Barack Obama Administration in 2012. Beijing’s move of filling this “TPP vacuum” with its own proposals about regional institutions (such as BRI and AIIB) was also perceived to be yet another sign of US decline and growing influence of China. Are such perceptions overblown? What are the roles played by other regional Great Powers such as India and Japan vis-à-vis the BRI, taking into consideration Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “look west” approach to reinvigorate economic and strategic linkages with Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean littorals, including Africa, not to also forget mentioning New Delhi’s drive to create its own analogue in the form of Project Mausam?
ModeratorProfessor Kriengsak CHAREONWONGSAKChairman, National Building Institute of Thailand; Harvard Professorial Fellow; Former Advisor to the Prime Minister and Former Member of Parliament of Thailand
Panellists:Professor Paul Tae-Woo LEE Director, Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Center, Ocean College, Zhejiang University, ChinaDr. Bill YOUNG President, Asia Pacific Federation of Project ManagementDr. Pradeep TANEJA Fellow, Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Buffet Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
PANEL SESSION 2: An Inclusive Formula to Ameliorate Strategic Dilemmas and Promote Cooperation
With a foreseeably sluggish global economy, growing international security challenges and persistent interstate rivalries – especially in the wider Asia-Pacific region – over competing economic and strategic interests, it has become imperative to foster greater levels of cooperation and minimize the potential impact of conflict. However, in view of the diverse – and in some cases conflictual – regional perceptions of China’s BRI, not to mention the complicating factor of Great Power rivalry, is it possible to derive an inclusive solution to ameliorate the competition-driven strategic dilemmas and foster cooperation? Is there really a solely “Asian” solution to the future of institutions in the Asia-Pacific region? This session seeks to examine whether it is possible to instill mutual confidence amongst countries both within and without Asia in the process of building an inclusive framework that could reconcile competing strategic interests amongst the various stakeholders and their respective alternative visions to China’s BRI. What are the ways forward for not just China and other Great Powers, but also smaller countries and regional players? Can existing regional institutions, such as ASEAN and IORA, play a role?
ModeratorProfessor Joseph LIOW Chin YongDean, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore.
Panellists:Professor James CHINDirector, Asia Institute Tasmania, University of TasmaniaDr. David BREWSTER Visiting Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Dr. Danny NGLecturer in International Business School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Australia.
With a foreseeably sluggish global economy, growing international security challenges and persistent interstate rivalries – especially in the wider Asia-Pacific region – over competing economic and strategic interests, it has become imperative to foster greater levels of cooperation and minimize the potential impact of conflict. However, in view of the diverse – and in some cases conflictual – regional perceptions of China’s BRI, not to mention the complicating factor of Great Power rivalry, is it possible to derive an inclusive solution to ameliorate the competition-driven strategic dilemmas and foster cooperation? Is there really a solely “Asian” solution to the future of institutions in the Asia-Pacific region? This session seeks to examine whether it is possible to instill mutual confidence amongst countries both within and without Asia in the process of building an inclusive framework that could reconcile competing strategic interests amongst the various stakeholders and their respective alternative visions to China’s BRI. What are the ways forward for not just China and other Great Powers, but also smaller countries and regional players? Can existing regional institutions, such as ASEAN and IORA, play a role?
ModeratorProfessor Joseph LIOW Chin YongDean, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technology University, Singapore.
Panellists:Professor James CHINDirector, Asia Institute Tasmania, University of TasmaniaDr. David BREWSTER Visiting Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Dr. Danny NGLecturer in International Business School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Australia.
3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Afternoon Refreshments / Networking
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
PANEL SESSION 3: The New Silk Roads Outlook on the Global Economy
Since the industrial revolution through to the emergence of globalised markets, global economy has been dominated by capital and knowledge exporting countries in the highly developed West. However, the landscape of international trade and investment l has distinctly changed tack during the past decade, as Asian countries have begun to actively develop their network of bilateral and regional economic cooperation. At present, the New Silk Roads are providing fertile ground for the emergence of a new pan-Asian environment. The changing geography of international economy in Asia raises a number of paradigm-shifting questions. This session will take up the issues relating to the impact that the New Silk Roads are having on the international framework so as to identify the actual, and forecast the potential Asian contribution to the global cognition and practice of international economics.
ModeratorProfessor Paul Tae-Woo LEEDirector, Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Center, Ocean College, Zhejiang University, China.
Panellists:Professor Kriengsak CHAREONWONGSAK Chairman, National Building Institute of Thailand; Harvard Professorial Fellow; Former Advisor to the Prime Minister and Former Member of Parliament of ThailandDr. HU ZhengyuDirector, Sustainable Development and Blue Economy Research Department, China Development Institute.Dr. Damain LEECEO/MD, DRL Corporation, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Since the industrial revolution through to the emergence of globalised markets, global economy has been dominated by capital and knowledge exporting countries in the highly developed West. However, the landscape of international trade and investment l has distinctly changed tack during the past decade, as Asian countries have begun to actively develop their network of bilateral and regional economic cooperation. At present, the New Silk Roads are providing fertile ground for the emergence of a new pan-Asian environment. The changing geography of international economy in Asia raises a number of paradigm-shifting questions. This session will take up the issues relating to the impact that the New Silk Roads are having on the international framework so as to identify the actual, and forecast the potential Asian contribution to the global cognition and practice of international economics.
ModeratorProfessor Paul Tae-Woo LEEDirector, Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Center, Ocean College, Zhejiang University, China.
Panellists:Professor Kriengsak CHAREONWONGSAK Chairman, National Building Institute of Thailand; Harvard Professorial Fellow; Former Advisor to the Prime Minister and Former Member of Parliament of ThailandDr. HU ZhengyuDirector, Sustainable Development and Blue Economy Research Department, China Development Institute.Dr. Damain LEECEO/MD, DRL Corporation, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Forum Dinner
DAY 2 - Tuesday 16 October 2018
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Arrival and Registration of Participants
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
New Silk Roads Women RoundtableChairpersonDato Dr. Jessie TANGGroup CEO of East West One Group, Malaysia
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
New Silk Roads Entrepreneurs RoundtableChairpersonAssociate Professor Catherine PRENTICEGriffiths Business School, Griffiths University, Australia
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
New Silk Roads Culture & Art RoundtableChairpersonDato Dr. Wilson YONGCEO of Sabah Institute of Art; President of Sabah Maritime Silk Route Research Society, Malaysia
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Morning Refreshments / Business Networking
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
PANEL SESSION 4: Opportunities and Challenges of the OBOR Supply Chain Network: Building an Effective and Efficient Logistics and Physical Distribution
One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative was introduced by PRC President Xi Jinping in 2013. The new national development strategy of China has become a potential global economic development strategy for many countries. The core of the OBOR initiative is to rebuild and expand the Terrestrial Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road. These are important international trade routes which heavily relied on high quality infrastructure and physical distribution. Therefore, it is essential to create an affordable, reliable and sustainable international logistics and distribution network that include road, rail, sea, air, and pipeline links to support the Initiative. In addition, it is vital to investigate the risks, opportunities and challenges of the OBOR supply chain network. In this session, we will examine the important factors such as infrastructure, government, technology, performance, innovation, sustainability, collaboration, capability, efficiency, resilience, and supply chain risk. This would provide insights into innovation management, logistics, supply chain management, and supply chain risk management to build an effective and efficient logistics and physical distribution.
ModeratorAssociate Professor Ferry JIEAssociate Professor in Supply Chain and Logistics Management, School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Australia.
Panellists:Professor Paul Tae-Woo LEEDirector, Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Center, Ocean College, Zhejiang University, China. Dr. Michael WangResearcher, SCION Research, New Zealand.Dr. Vinh THAISenior Lecturer, School of Business IT & Logistics (BITL), RMIT University, Melbourne
One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative was introduced by PRC President Xi Jinping in 2013. The new national development strategy of China has become a potential global economic development strategy for many countries. The core of the OBOR initiative is to rebuild and expand the Terrestrial Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road. These are important international trade routes which heavily relied on high quality infrastructure and physical distribution. Therefore, it is essential to create an affordable, reliable and sustainable international logistics and distribution network that include road, rail, sea, air, and pipeline links to support the Initiative. In addition, it is vital to investigate the risks, opportunities and challenges of the OBOR supply chain network. In this session, we will examine the important factors such as infrastructure, government, technology, performance, innovation, sustainability, collaboration, capability, efficiency, resilience, and supply chain risk. This would provide insights into innovation management, logistics, supply chain management, and supply chain risk management to build an effective and efficient logistics and physical distribution.
ModeratorAssociate Professor Ferry JIEAssociate Professor in Supply Chain and Logistics Management, School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Australia.
Panellists:Professor Paul Tae-Woo LEEDirector, Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Center, Ocean College, Zhejiang University, China. Dr. Michael WangResearcher, SCION Research, New Zealand.Dr. Vinh THAISenior Lecturer, School of Business IT & Logistics (BITL), RMIT University, Melbourne
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
PANEL SESSION 5: Social and Cross-Cultural Aspects and Perspectives of the New Silk Roads
The ancient overland and maritime Silk Roads were more than routes where goods were traded. The same paths that transported goods also transmitted and exchanged knowledge, culture and learning. Art, religions, music, science, technologies, and other social-cultural elements flourished along the ancient Silk Roads. Furthermore, they travelled in both directions, from the East westwards and from the West eastwards. They even had paths traveling southwards and northwards from the overland Silk Road. With the re-construction of the New Silk Roads, what aspects of culture and social behaviour will be impacted on countries along the routes? How do nations take advantage of the economic opportunities to modernize and strengthen their own cultures which will inevitably change? How social and cultural interactions enhance long-term economic development and improve wellbeing of nations along the New Silk Roads? This session will examine various aspects of social and cultural change along the New Silk Roads, including how philanthropic activities can contribute and enhance cultures and social fabric of the more than 65 nations dotted along the Silk Roads.
ModeratorProfessor James CHINDirector, Asia Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania
Panellists:Professor Tim WinterProfessor of Heritage Studies, University Western Australia, Australia.Dr. Giovanni BUTERAChairman of Global Association of International Artists; Managing Director, Nixora GroupMr. Matthews AZIZSenior Lecturer, Sabah Institute of Art.
The ancient overland and maritime Silk Roads were more than routes where goods were traded. The same paths that transported goods also transmitted and exchanged knowledge, culture and learning. Art, religions, music, science, technologies, and other social-cultural elements flourished along the ancient Silk Roads. Furthermore, they travelled in both directions, from the East westwards and from the West eastwards. They even had paths traveling southwards and northwards from the overland Silk Road. With the re-construction of the New Silk Roads, what aspects of culture and social behaviour will be impacted on countries along the routes? How do nations take advantage of the economic opportunities to modernize and strengthen their own cultures which will inevitably change? How social and cultural interactions enhance long-term economic development and improve wellbeing of nations along the New Silk Roads? This session will examine various aspects of social and cultural change along the New Silk Roads, including how philanthropic activities can contribute and enhance cultures and social fabric of the more than 65 nations dotted along the Silk Roads.
ModeratorProfessor James CHINDirector, Asia Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania
Panellists:Professor Tim WinterProfessor of Heritage Studies, University Western Australia, Australia.Dr. Giovanni BUTERAChairman of Global Association of International Artists; Managing Director, Nixora GroupMr. Matthews AZIZSenior Lecturer, Sabah Institute of Art.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Buffet Lunch
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
PANEL SESSION 6:Paving the New Silk Roads Alongside RCEP and AIIB: What’s in it for China and its Partners in the Asia-Pacific Region?
China has strong economic incentives to further regulatory integration in East Asia, even if it means to tolerate the US security dominance for some time to come. This means that China is likely to use its economic dominance to further embed the Asian neighbours into globalised markets. To do so, Xi Jinping’s administration has accelerated on major pan-Asian infrastructure and institutional projects, most notably the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the ASEAN-focused Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Infrastructures, investments and even humanitarian aid, more than an arms race, are thus fuelling Xi Jinping’s the so called ‘major-power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics’. This session seeks to understand whether paving the New Silk Roads alongside the RCEP and AIIB under China’s leadership is going to help preserve or moving from the US-China détente initiated in the 1970s, which was crucial to the staggering socio-economic development of many Asian countries.
ModeratorDr. David TRIESMANLecturer, Bachelor of International Business, Monash University, Melbourne
Panellists:Dr. HU ZhengyuDirector, Sustainable Development and Blue Economy Research Department, China Development Institute.Dr. Vanaja KARAGIANNIDISSenior Management Lecturer, Melbourne Institute of Technology.Mr. Muan LIMChairman, Advisory Board Centre for Asian Business and Economics, University of Melbourne
China has strong economic incentives to further regulatory integration in East Asia, even if it means to tolerate the US security dominance for some time to come. This means that China is likely to use its economic dominance to further embed the Asian neighbours into globalised markets. To do so, Xi Jinping’s administration has accelerated on major pan-Asian infrastructure and institutional projects, most notably the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the ASEAN-focused Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Infrastructures, investments and even humanitarian aid, more than an arms race, are thus fuelling Xi Jinping’s the so called ‘major-power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics’. This session seeks to understand whether paving the New Silk Roads alongside the RCEP and AIIB under China’s leadership is going to help preserve or moving from the US-China détente initiated in the 1970s, which was crucial to the staggering socio-economic development of many Asian countries.
ModeratorDr. David TRIESMANLecturer, Bachelor of International Business, Monash University, Melbourne
Panellists:Dr. HU ZhengyuDirector, Sustainable Development and Blue Economy Research Department, China Development Institute.Dr. Vanaja KARAGIANNIDISSenior Management Lecturer, Melbourne Institute of Technology.Mr. Muan LIMChairman, Advisory Board Centre for Asian Business and Economics, University of Melbourne
3.30 PM – 4.00 PM
Hand-Over of New Silk Roads World Forum to Kota Kinabalu
4:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Vote of Thanks and Afternoon Tea
5:00 PM
End of Forum / Refreshments