During Network of ASEAN – China Think Tank (NACT) Working Group virtual meeting on 21 June 2022, Amb Pou Sothirak, Executive Director of CICP, expressed his appreciation to all NACT members for unanimously approved NACT 2022 theme as “Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development for ASEAN – China Relations Post-Covid Recovery” and for agreeing to participate in a joint working group’s research studies proposed by NACT – Cambodia under the theme of “Forging ASEAN-China Partnership: Empowering Youth in the Digital Era”.
The research study is well chosen and well fitted to support the pivotal role of digital transformation for post Covid-19 economic recovery as expressed during the 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings on 28 January 2021 during which time ASEAN and China agreed to further intensify their cooperation to accelerate the region’s digital transformation efforts to support the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and its Implementation Plan in order to resuscitate the dire economic situation during post Covid-19 for a quicker bounce back.
During this meeting, we hear the perspectives from China, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam as they intend to foster ASEAN-China Partnership to empower youths in the Digital Era. There will be a NACT Working Group Report based on this research study containing policy recommendations which will be published later to be submitted to official Track 1 for consideration.
