The College of Comparative Law, China University of Political Science and Law in partnership with the Australian APEC Study Centre the University of Canberra hosted a Seminar and Policy Dialogue on Enhancing the Investment Environment in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economies on 16-18 September.
In attendance were senior representatives from APEC and ASEAN countries, leading international organisations such as the OECD, Asia Development Bank, and IMF in addition to key Chinese officials.
The general theme for the conference was foreign investment. China and the US are both major investors and destination points for foreign direct investments. These investments involve both private investors and sovereign wealth funds. In the case of sovereign wealth funds and other state investing, pension funds with huge sums of money are looking for reliable places and vehicles in which to invest those funds. These international investment agreements are key components in the free flow of capital among countries and are vital, especially in the funding of infrastructure development in most countries.
The conference was divided into three major themes. Day 1 speakers presented an overview of global and regional investment flows and looked at quantitative measures to demonstrate improving investment environment. Day 2 provided a strategic discussion of ways to enhance the investment environment in APEC and ASEAN countries. Finally, Day 3 provided a detailed case study focused on China-Australia investment relationships.
With the rapid growth of bilateral investment treaties, Free Trade Agreements and other investment agreements new levels of complexity, uncertainty and substantive expansion have emerged. Consequently, international investment law is in a state of transformation and has become one of the fastest growing areas of international law.
According to Dean Gao, of CUPL’s College of Comparative Law, this was a major event one focused on very important topics to China and all ASEAN and APEC countries.
The papers from this important conference will be published in book form.
