Network on ASEAN-China Think Tanks (NACT) Country Coordinators Meeting

In such challenging times, the spread of COVID-19 has caused the economic and social disruptions that shaped our world today. In some areas of interest, academicians play an integral role in the fight against the pandemic, particularly in recognizing the impacts and formulating the relevant policies targetting the vulnerable groups who are bearing the brunt.

Based on the background issue mentioned by NACT Viet Nam, this year’s Network on ASEAN-China Think Tank Country’s Coordinators Meeting (NACT CCM) was held on March 19, 2021, to discuss the general theme and working group proposals for the 2021 agenda. The country’s coordinators had attended the online meeting on the Webex platform. During the opening remarks, Dr. Gao Yanjun (representative of NACT China) stated that China and ASEAN must engage in future collaboration to bring sustainable development goals into action.

After considering several themes proposed by the country coordinators, the meeting concluded that the general theme of the 2021 NACT Working Group (NACT WG) meeting will focus on Multilateralism in Preparing for a Post-Pandemic Recovery. The NACT WG Meeting will tentatively be held in conjoint plan between NACT Singapore and NACT Indonesia mid-year.