China’s Global Engagement The Asia Foundation supports China’s “Going Abroad” policy with programs that promote understanding of Chinese development cooperation, support sustainable practices by Chinese businesses overseas, and build the capacity of Chinese NGOs to respond to long-term develop- ment needs and immediate humanitarian crises in Asia. We support programs related to public administra- tion, environmental protection, women’s empowerment, di- saster management, regional cooperation and constructive U.S.-China relations. The Asia Foundation has been programming in China since 1979. China’s unprecedented economic transformation has lifted more than 500 million Chinese citizens out of poverty and raised living standards for many more. China’s emergence as a global power now positions it to bring similar benefits to others around the world. e country’s impact on Asian regional development, in particular, is expected to grow with the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the announcement of the Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road initiative (also known as the “Belt and Road Initiative,” or BRI.) e Asia Foundation’s China office, in Beijing, linked to a network of 18 Foundation offices in Asia, conducts programs that support China’s global engagement. Working with Chinese uni- versities, think tanks, nongovernmental organiza- tions, foundations, and government agencies, the Foundation assists Chinese efforts in the areas of development cooperation, foreign investment, and NGO capacity building. rough research, knowledge sharing, and training activities, Foun- dation programs support Chinese international development efforts that are sustainable, informed by international practices, and responsive to local needs. e Foundation also continues to build on more than 30 years of programming to facilitate cooperative relations between the U.S. and China. CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING China’s expanding role as a provider of develop- ment assistance is the subject of considerable interest both inside and outside the country. Since 2010, e Asia Foundation has been working to promote understanding and the sharing of experi- ences between Chinese and international policy researchers and development practitioners. For example, in June 2012, the Foundation and the Korea Development Institute hosted a conference in Beijing on “Pro-Poor Growth and Develop- ment.” More recently, the Foundation convened a roundtable in ailand about China’s development cooperation policy to share insights and perspec- tives on topics including the AIIB, BRI, and com- parative Chinese and Western aid policies. e Foundation has also been collaborating with Chinese institutions to explore how other coun- tries approach development assistance and to build China’s development cooperation capacity. Programs have included: 1) comparative research on foreign aid laws and regulations to improve aid management; 2) a training manual for develop- ment cooperation projects; 3) comparative research on triangular cooperation by countries such as CHINA Together with our partners, we are committed to Asia’s continued development as a peaceful, just and thriving region of the world.
Transcript
China’s Global EngagementThe Asia Foundation supports China’s “Going Abroad” policy with programs that promote understanding of Chinese development cooperation, support sustainable practices by Chinese businesses overseas, and build the capacity of Chinese NGOs to respond to long-term develop-ment needs and immediate humanitarian crises in Asia.
China’s unprecedented economic transformation has lifted more than 500 million Chinese citizens out of poverty and raised living standards for many more. China’s emergence as a global power now positions it to bring similar benefits to others around the world. The country’s impact on Asian regional development, in particular, is expected to grow with the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the announcement of the Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road initiative (also known as the “Belt and Road Initiative,” or BRI.)
The Asia Foundation’s China office, in Beijing, linked to a network of 18 Foundation offices in Asia, conducts programs that support China’s global engagement. Working with Chinese uni-versities, think tanks, nongovernmental organiza-tions, foundations, and government agencies, the Foundation assists Chinese efforts in the areas of development cooperation, foreign investment, and NGO capacity building. Through research, knowledge sharing, and training activities, Foun-dation programs support Chinese international development efforts that are sustainable, informed by international practices, and responsive to local needs. The Foundation also continues to build on more than 30 years of programming to facilitate cooperative relations between the U.S. and China.
CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING AND
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
China’s expanding role as a provider of develop-ment assistance is the subject of considerable interest both inside and outside the country. Since 2010, The Asia Foundation has been working to promote understanding and the sharing of experi-ences between Chinese and international policy researchers and development practitioners. For example, in June 2012, the Foundation and the Korea Development Institute hosted a conference in Beijing on “Pro-Poor Growth and Develop-ment.” More recently, the Foundation convened a roundtable in Thailand about China’s development cooperation policy to share insights and perspec-tives on topics including the AIIB, BRI, and com-parative Chinese and Western aid policies. The Foundation has also been collaborating with Chinese institutions to explore how other coun-tries approach development assistance and to build China’s development cooperation capacity. Programs have included: 1) comparative research on foreign aid laws and regulations to improve aid management; 2) a training manual for develop-ment cooperation projects; 3) comparative research on triangular cooperation by countries such as
CHINA
Together with our partners, we are
committed to Asia’s continued
development as a peaceful, just and thriving region of
the world.
Japan, Germany, and Brazil; and 4) a series of country case studies of China’s assistance in South-east Asia, focusing on civil society’s perceptions of Chinese aid and its overall effectiveness.
As it expands its development efforts, China is in-creasingly cognizant of the need to address regional instability as part of its engagement. The Founda-tion is contributing to China’s understanding of the complicated landscape in neighboring Afghani-stan, relying on the Foundation’s long and active presence there. The Foundation sponsored a panel on International Cooperation for Afghanistan’s Fu-ture Stability and Development at the World Peace Forum. The panel brought together former senior officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, and the U.S., who discussed how the international community could stay involved in Afghanistan and acknowledged China’s role in that country’s future.
Lastly, after more than a decade assisting China’s domestic disaster management efforts, the Foun-dation is partnering with Chinese agencies to strengthen their international humanitarian assistance, by introducing international disaster assistance models and exploring mechanisms for coordination between China and other countries. The Foundation is working with disaster man-agement training institutes to enhance China’s engagement in the ASEAN region, and facilitating cooperation between U.S. and Chinese experts to strengthen the skills of disaster management experts in China and ASEAN countries.
CHINA’S BUSINESS INVESTMENT ABROAD
BUILDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
PRACTICES
China is evolving into one of the world’s largest overseas investors. Chinese businesses have the po-tential to bring huge benefits to host countries, but also present new risks. To avert negative economic and environmental consequences, China has de-veloped policies to encourage businesses to become more responsible corporate actors in host countries. These include guidance to state-owned enterprises on releasing corporate social responsibility reports, and guidelines on environmental protection for Chinese businesses working overseas.
The Asia Foundation is supporting efforts to increase Chinese companies’ awareness of environ-mental policies and local perceptions and concerns in host countries, encourage environmentally responsible behaviors, and improve their capacity for compliance. With local partners, the Founda-tion is developing trainings and training materi-als for Chinese businesses interested in investing abroad. In particular, the Foundation is focusing
on Chinese investment in Southeast Asia. With its Asia-wide network, the Foundation can provide unparalleled insight into the environmental, politi-cal, and social context of other Asian countries where Chinese companies operate.
CHINESE NGOS ABROAD
BUILDING CAPACITY
Chinese development cooperation has relied in the past on government agencies and state-owned companies. As the NGO sector matures, and in keeping with a global trend toward public-private partnerships, more Chinese NGOs are consider-ing development projects abroad. They confront several challenges, however, including regulatory restrictions, staff capacity, and understanding local culture and context.
The Asia Foundation supports these international development initiatives through comparative research on how other traditional and emerging donors collaborate with NGOs. The Foundation has also supported the development of an opera-tions manual for Chinese NGOs in other countries and promoted sharing best practices within the NGO community.
Experienced at dealing with natural disasters at home, Chinese NGOs are now beginning to offer their expertise abroad. The Foundation is helping to build capacity in international humanitarian work, fostering networking among key humanitar-ian actors, improving China’s understanding of the role of NGOs in international assistance, and mobilizing private sector support. In the wake of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, several Chinese NGOs crossed the border to provide emergency relief to a neighboring country for the first time. The Asia Foundation provided technical support to link these organizations with larger international relief efforts, and to foster awareness of best practices and international assistance standards.
The Asia Foundation
is a nonprofit international
development organization
committed to improving
lives across a dynamic
and developing Asia.
Headquartered in San
Francisco, The Asia
Foundation works through
a network of offices in 18
Asian countries and in
Washington, DC. Working
with public and private
partners, the Foundation
receives funding from a
diverse group of
bilateral and multilateral
development agencies,
foundations, corporations,
and individuals.
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china.asiafoundation.org
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11/ 2015
• Training manual for international development cooperation, focusing on participatory planning
• Operating manual for Chinese NGOs going abroad
• Report on Chinese development cooperation conference in Bangkok
