A Partnership Transformed by Wihtol Robert;

Author:Wihtol, Robert;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Asian Development Bank Institute
Published: 2018-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Two-Way Partnership Expands Quickly

In 2008–2012, the two-way partnership between ADB and the PRC developed rapidly, with the PRC stepping up its financial contribution to ADB and sharing its development experience with the rest of the world.

The PRC participated in the negotiations for the ninth replenishment of the Asian Development Fund (ADF X) and in 2009 pledged a contribution of $35 million (0.76% of the total). In the ADF XI negotiations, the PRC’s share remained at the same level, and in 2013 it pledged a further $45 million (0.77% of the total). Following 7 years of successful performance by the PRC Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund, in 2012 the PRC also committed to replenish the trust fund by $20 million.

There were also significant developments on the knowledge front. The PRC organized a number of knowledge-sharing events for African countries together with the World Bank, and developed a series of knowledge-sharing events for Asian countries together with ADB. The seminars and workshops were organized in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Finance and Development Center and several local universities. In 2012, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and ADB formalized this arrangement by establishing the Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative. The initiative provided a structured framework for ADB and the government to organize knowledge-sharing events, with three staff based in the PRC Resident Mission.

By 2008, the resident mission had expanded significantly and was one of ADB’s largest, with a total of nearly 80 staff. It had established separate units for economics and knowledge work, country strategy and program development, and portfolio management and loan administration, comprising both international and national staff. The resident mission also hosted a growing number of specialists outposted from ADB’s headquarters in Manila to support operations in key areas, including private sector operations, the bank’s legal work in the PRC, climate change, and urban development.

At the same time, in response to the growing demand from the MOF and other government agencies, ADB stepped up the provision of policy advice. The series of policy notes, in both English and Chinese, was upgraded and expanded to cover topics ranging from housing finance, earthquake insurance, and migrant workers to air pollution and macroeconomic management. Starting in 2008, ADB deepened its involvement in the PRC’s five-year planning process. The bank supported the preparatory work for the Twelfth Five-Year Plan, including the preparation of background papers and organizing a major workshop with the National Development and Reform Commission.

In 2012, the PRC hosted the 11th ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation program countries in Wuhan. The meeting approved the Wuhan Action Plan. Among other things, the plan paved the way for the physical establishment in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Institute, a think tank dedicated to Central Asian regional issues.3

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