Him Rotha, Deputy Director, CCRS attended the Network of East Asian Think Tanks (NEAT) Working Group on Strengthening Supply Chains in East Asia, in Shenzhen, China from 17-20 July 2024. The meeting aimed to find ways to enhance the connectivity of supply chains in East Asia, which involves ASEAN-Plus-Three countries.
During the meeting, participants from APT countries viewed that the East Asian supply chain system has been interconnected with various integration mechanisms, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and lately, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). However, the regional supply chain has been threatened by the rise of non-traditional security challenges, like Covid-19 and climate change as well as geopolitical complexities and anti-globalization forces. In response to those challenges, the meeting suggested different ideas, such as the need to rebuild trust in economic partnership mechanisms and the need to avoid trade politicization. More importantly, to adapt to emerging issues, such as climate change, innovations were needed. Such things, like the use of electric vehicles (EVs), were highly suggested by some participants.
Reflecting on this meeting, Rotha viewed that it is crucial for APT countries to rebuild trust with each other, especially trying to avoid any unilateral measures that could disrupt the supply chain, like back in the COVID-19 pandemic. Other than that, he was of the view that APT countries should work together to tackle emerging challenges to the supply chain, such as cooperating on financial transparency and data protection. Moreover, it is indeed EVs an answer to the climate challenge, but APT countries should work together to facilitate investment in EVs infrastructure across the region. More importantly, APT countries should avoid any monopolization of EVs technology but should embrace the diversity of these new products.
After the meeting, Rotha joined with other NEAT delegations to visit BYD company, an EVs company based in Shenzhen. He witnessed the production line simulation as well as learning about the BYD worldwide market, which will expand to Cambodia soon.
