Zhu Guangyao, Former Chinese Vice Minister of Finance

The global recession brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic appears set to hit harder and be more protracted than the global financial crisis of 2008. With China now returning to work and appearing on track to stage the first recovery among leading economies, the world is looking to see if China will be able to spark a global economic revival. At the Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit on 26 March, People’s Republic of China (PRC) President Xi Jinping called on the international community to “strengthen confidence, act with unity and work together in a collective response”, noting that international cooperation had to be stepped up in order to win the battle against COVID-19.

Speaking via video from Beijing, Mr Zhu Guangyao, former Vice Minister of Finance of the PRC, will address Asia House Corporate Members in this exclusive off the record briefing. Mr Zhu will provide his insights on the impact of COVID-19 on the Chinese economy as it emerges from the crisis, the PRC government’s policy measures and role in the global economy and institutions such as the G20 as it sets the stage for recovery.

Mr Zhu was the PRC’s Vice Minister of Finance from May 2010 to June 2018. As Vice Minister, Mr Zhu oversaw the Customs Tariff Department, as well as coordinating the economic track of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the financial channel of the G20. He joined the Ministry of Finance in 1985 and has served in various senior positions within the Ministry, and was also Senior Advisor, Alternate Executive Director and Executive Director of China to the World Bank from 1994 to 1996 and 2001 to 2004. He currently serves as Counsellor in the PRC’s State Council.

This briefing is held exclusively for Asia House Corporate Members. To register interest in attending, please contact Edward Danks at Edward.Danks@asiahouse.co.uk