Returning to Sustained Growth in Asia:
How Asia's Economies Can Compete in Challenging Times

Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York City

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Evening Reception and Keynote Address Monday, April 22, 2002 6:00pm - 8:00pm One-Day Conference Tuesday, April 23, 2002 8:00am - 3:00pm

Lead Corporate Sponsor: JPMorgan Corporate Supporter: Verizon Official Airline: United Airlines

--Nicholas Platt, President, Asia Society
--T.T. Ryan, Jr., Managing Director, Global Government Institutions Group, JPMorgan

Opening Keynote Address:
--Jon Huntsman Jr., Deputy US Trade Representative

--Nicholas Platt, President, Asia Society
--Sean Wallace, Co-head of Investment Banking for Asia Pacific, JPMorgan

--Xiang Huaicheng, Minister of Finance, People's Republic of China

The opening panel will assess the regional economic outlook, the timeline for recovery, and the progress Asian governments have been making to return to levels of competitiveness seen before the economic downturn began in Spring 2001. Asia's economies must not only contend with anemic growth throughout the region, but the increasing comparative advantage China holds in attracting foreign investment in the region. What economic reform and restructuring has taken place in order to make the region's economies more competitive, and what more can be done in the near future? How can Asia ex-China make itself into a more attractive investment destination?

Keynote Remarks:
--Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia
--Yong-Duk Kim, Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Korea

Panelists:
--John P. Lipsky, Chief Economist, JPMorgan
--Motoatsu Sakurai, Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi International Corporation
--Jean-Pierre Verbiest, Acting Chief Economist, Asian Development Bank
--Ken Richeson, Executive Director, US-ASEAN Business Council
--Michael Vatikiotis, Editor, Far Eastern Economic Review (moderator)

China can also prove to be an opportunity for its neighbors, as its significant real growth and enormous domestic markets may offer the export-driven economies throughout the region a solution to the dried-up demand among its Western trading partners. What are regional economies doing to increase their presence on the mainland, and how can they capitalize on opportunities there in the years to come? Can China offer other Asian economies the same way out of this crisis as America offered during Asia's last crisis?

Panelists:
--Nicholas Howson, Partner, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
--Carl Walter, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer for China, JPMorgan
--Dr. Shahid Yusuf, Research Manager, Development Economics Research Group, World Bank
--Karen Corbett Sanders, VP, International Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Verizon
--Reginald Chua, Editor, Asia Wall Street Journal (moderator)

One year into his tenure as Japan's Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi has set out an ambitious program to reform Japan's ailing banking sector, streamline the country's bloated public sector, and enforce standards of efficiency and corporate governance in the private sector. For the most part, Mr. Koizumi has yet to achieve his goals, although they are widely considered essential for Japan to see sustainable growth in the future. What can he realistically do during his term of office? What role will the corporate sector play? What is the outlook for foreign investors, and where can they find value in the Japanese economy of today?

Keynote Remarks:
--Haruhiko Kuroda, Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Japan

Panelists:
--Toyoo Gyohten, President, Institute for International Monetary Affairs
--Jun Okumura, President of Japan External Trade Organization NY
--Masaaki Kanno, Managing Director, Economic Research, Asia Pacific, JPMorgan
--Richard Medley, Chairman, Medley Global Advisors
--Urban Lehner, Vice President, Business Development, The Wall Street Journal (moderator)

--Jose Isidro N. Camacho, Secretary of Finance, Philippines

With hostility to American brands palpable throughout the region because of the ongoing political conflict, multinational corporations will be looking to American and Asian officials to smooth political differences, encourage economic ties and reduce economic frictions so that business can proceed as usual. What can Asian governments do to change the tone in their countries, so that they can once again attract investment? To what degree do US and Asian governments agree on the need for economic cooperation right now? Are there ways in which multinationals can contribute to improving economic relations through more delicate and aware international business strategies? Can the IMF and APEC play a role?

Panelists:
--Stanley O. Roth, Vice President of International Relations, Boeing Company
--Barry Metzger, Partner, Coudert Brothers
--Anthony Elson, Senior Advisor, Asia and Pacific Department, IMF
--Myron Brilliant, Vice President, Asia, International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
--Melanie Kirkpatrick, Assistant Editor, The Wall Street Journal Editorial (moderator)

--Nicholas Platt, President, Asia Society