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Past Event

Japan’s role in Asia’s connectivity: Infrastructure finance and digital governance

Past Event

The connectivity agenda is essential to Asia’s economic growth: from the supply of high quality infrastructure to enable efficient production and transportation networks, to the dissemination of digital standards critical to information flows, services, and the burgeoning digital economy. While discussions on Asia’s connectivity agenda have focused on China’s growing influence through its Belt and Road Initiative and its plans for a Digital Silk Road, Japan has long played an important role in financing infrastructure projects in the region and has stepped up its economic diplomacy. In addition to its $200 billion Quality Infrastructure Initiative, Japan has established a cooperation mechanism with the United States and Australia to support private sector investment in regional infrastructure, while also agreeing to some collaboration with China on infrastructure projects in third countries. On the digital front, Japan has made data governance a centerpiece of its G20 chairmanship in 2019, and the recently enacted Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement includes rules that underpin the development of digital connectivity.

On February 11, the Center for East Asia Policy Studies hosted Kohei Toyoda, director for international coordination for the Trade Policy Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, for a keynote address on Japan’s goals and policies to advance Asian connectivity. Following Mr. Toyoda’s remarks, a panel of experts examined how to balance competition and collaboration among great powers in supplying Asia’s connectivity infrastructure, how much traction Japan’s Quality Infrastructure Initiative has gained in the region, and limitations and opportunities for Japan-China business cooperation in third countries. They also addressed the prospect of a U.S.-Japan partnership on infrastructure and digital connectivity, as well as the challenges ahead for Japan to become a leader of digital connectivity. After the discussion, panelists questions from the audience.

Agenda

Keynote address

K

Kohei Toyoda

Director for International Coordination, Trade Policy Bureau - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan

Panelists

N

Nancy Lee

Senior Policy Fellow - Center for Global Development

Hosuk Lee-Makiyama

Director - The European Centre for International Political Economy

Senior Fellow - London School of Economics

S

Shin Oya

Senior Consulting Fellow - Asia Pacific Initiative

Chief Representative for Strategic Research - Japan Bank for International Cooperation

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