Does the New Asia Infrastructure Development Bank Add Anything New?
When China proposed a new development bank in Asia devoted to infrastructure, there were numerous questions raised. These included whether there was really a need for another development bank, whether the new bank would have sufficiently high environmental and social safeguards and be as transparent as the existing ones.
There was agreement that infrastructure is needed in Asia and that more funding is required. In Asia there is a history of infrastructure projects receiving much development assistance which has also influenced development policies and practice.
The seminar will examine the role of Japan as a leading donor in this field, how the new bank essentially follows an established path in development assistance in Asia, and what this means for development assistance policy and practice.
Åsa Malmström Rognes is a researcher at the Department of Economic History, Uppsala University. She worked for many years as an economist with the Asian Development Bank before returning to academia to pursue a PhD in economic history. Her research is largely devoted to Asian economies.
Opening Remarks:
Mr. Jun Yamazaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sweden
Discussant:
Mr. Mats Karlsson, Director, Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Moderator:
Professor Marie Söderberg, Director, European Institute of Japanese Studies, Stockholm School of Economics
The 70th Stockholm Seminar on Japan
The Japan seminar series is jointly organized by the European Institute of Japanese Studies at Stockholm School of Economics, the Asia Programme at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, the Department of Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish Studies at Stockholm University and the Swedish Defence University. It features monthly seminars on Japanese economy, politics and society.