The Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research (HKIMR), the research arm of the Hong Kong Academy of Finance (AoF) has officially joined the ASEAN+3 Finance Think-Tank Network (AFTN) as a founding member institution.
The ASEAN+3 Finance Think-Tank Network is a coalition established to promote policy dialogues and research collaborations among think-tanks in the ASEAN+3 region.
It includes the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — plus three East Asian countries: China, Japan, and South Korea.
The AFTN brings together 21 think tanks and research institutions (Annex), spanning Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among economic and financial think tanks across the ASEAN+3 region.
The mission of AFTN is to enhance regional economic and financial resilience and stability through conducting joint research, knowledge sharing and capacity building.
Enoch Fung, the Chief Executive Officer of the AoF and Executive Director of the HKIMR, and Dr Kouqing Li, Director of ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, together with representatives of 19 think tanks and research institutions, signed the MoC at a ceremony.
Following the signing ceremony, the AFTN hosted an inaugural meeting of its steer committee among the senior representatives from AFTN’s members.
The primary objective of this network is to facilitate knowledge sharing and joint research initiatives, concentrating on economic and financial topics pertinent to the region.
It acts as a platform for policy discussions and collaborative research among economists, policymakers, scholars, and experts, aiming to enhance economic stability and financial resilience within the ASEAN+3 countries.
By fostering dialogue and collaboration, the ASEAN+3 Finance Think-Tank Network contributes to the formulation of sound economic policies and the promotion of regional financial cooperation, aiding in addressing shared economic challenges and bolstering the regional financial architecture.