Overview

The Asia Economic Research Institute (AERI) is a think tank dedicated to regional economic research and cooperation in Asia. Since its establishment, the Institute has consistently pursued its core mission of promoting sustainable economic development in Asia and advancing regional economic integration. Through high-quality economic research, policy analysis, and academic exchange, AERI provides intellectual support and decision-making references for governments, enterprises, and international organizations.

Background and Mission

Against the backdrop of deepening globalization and the rising economic prominence of Asia, economic ties among Asian countries have become increasingly close, with continued growth in intra-regional trade and investment. However, the region also faces numerous challenges, including economic structural transformation, regional development imbalances, and global economic volatility. AERI was established to strengthen systematic research on Asian economic dynamics and to promote intra-regional coordination and cooperation on economic policies.

Core missions of the Institute include:

  • In-depth analysis of economic development trends in Asia and globally, providing a scientific basis for Asian countries to formulate economic policies;
  • Advancing the development of Asian regional economic cooperation mechanisms, facilitating optimal allocation of resources and the process of economic integration within the region;
  • Building platforms for academic exchange and cooperation, strengthening connections and interactions among economic research institutions and experts across Asia;
  • Cultivating professional talent in the field of Asian economic research, building intellectual resources for Asia's economic development.

Organizational Structure

AERI adopts a scientifically sound organizational structure to ensure the efficient conduct of research and the smooth execution of various functions. The organizational framework primarily comprises the following components:

Academic Committee

The Academic Committee serves as the highest academic decision-making body of the Institute, composed of renowned domestic and international economists, scholars, and policymakers. Its primary responsibilities include reviewing the Institute's academic development plans, research directions, major research project proposals, and research outcome evaluations, providing guidance and oversight for the Institute's academic research.

Research Departments

The research departments are the core force for conducting specific research work. Based on different research fields and directions, the Institute has established several specialized research centers:

  1. Regional Economic Integration Research Center: Primarily studies the processes, models, challenges, and countermeasures of Asian regional economic integration, covering free trade agreements, regional financial cooperation, and infrastructure connectivity.
  2. Industrial Economics Research Center: Focuses on the current status, trends, and competitiveness of key industries across Asian countries, analyzing the impact of industrial restructuring, industrial relocation, and technological innovation on economic development.
  3. Macroeconomic Policy Research Center: Tracks and analyzes macroeconomic conditions in Asia and globally, studying the effects and coordination mechanisms of monetary policy, fiscal policy, and exchange rate policy.
  4. Digital Economy and Innovation Research Center: Examines the impact of emerging technologies such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and big data on the Asian economy, exploring development opportunities and challenges in the digital economy era.

International Cooperation and Exchange Department

This department is primarily responsible for the Institute's cooperation and exchange affairs with international organizations, foreign research institutions, universities, and enterprises, including organizing international academic conferences, conducting joint research projects, and dispatching researchers for exchange programs, thereby enhancing the Institute's international influence and research capabilities.

Major Research Fields and Achievements

Asian Macroeconomic Analysis and Forecasting

The Institute regularly monitors and analyzes macroeconomic indicators such as economic growth, inflation, employment, and balance of payments for Asia and major economies, publishing quarterly, semi-annual, and annual economic outlook reports with development trend forecasts to provide decision-making references for governments and enterprises.

Regional Economic Cooperation Mechanism Research

The Institute has conducted in-depth research on major regional economic cooperation mechanisms in Asia, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), analyzing their roles and effectiveness in promoting trade liberalization, investment facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation.

Industrial Development and Structural Upgrading Research

The Institute studies key industries including manufacturing, services, and agriculture, analyzing directions and pathways for industrial structural upgrading, and proposing policy recommendations for promoting industrial innovation and enhancing industrial competitiveness.

Financial Cooperation and Risk Prevention

The Institute focuses on the progress of regional financial cooperation in Asia, researching issues such as cross-border financial market connectivity, monetary cooperation, and financial regulatory coordination, analyzing sources and transmission mechanisms of financial risks, and proposing measures for preventing and resolving financial risks.

Digital Economy and Sustainable Development Research

As the digital economy develops rapidly, the Institute strengthens research on the application of digital technologies in the economic sphere, analyzing the transformative impact of the digital economy on traditional industries and its effects on employment and income distribution. Simultaneously, it addresses sustainable development issues in the Asian economy, studying the relationship between green economy, low-carbon development, environmental protection, and economic growth.

Academic Exchange and Cooperation

AERI places great importance on academic exchange and cooperation, strengthening connections and interactions with relevant domestic and international institutions through various forms:

Hosting Academic Conferences

The Institute regularly hosts academic conferences such as the Asian Economic Forum and thematic seminars, inviting domestic and international experts, policymakers, and business representatives to engage in in-depth discussions and exchanges on pressing issues in Asian economic development.

Joint Research Projects

The Institute conducts joint research projects with international organizations (such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank), foreign research institutions, universities, and enterprises, collaboratively exploring major issues in Asian economic development.

Personnel Exchange and Training

The Institute dispatches researchers to renowned foreign research institutions and universities for exchange and study, while also receiving foreign researchers for collaborative research. Additionally, it organizes training programs for economic researchers and policymakers across Asian countries.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, AERI will continue to uphold its mission of promoting Asian economic development, adapt to changes in the global economic landscape and new demands in Asian economic development, and continuously enhance its research capabilities and service quality. The Institute will focus on strengthening work in the following areas:

  1. Conducting in-depth research on new trends in Asian economic development, particularly in emerging fields such as the digital economy, green economy, and artificial intelligence.
  2. Strengthening cooperation with Asian governments, enterprises, and international organizations to promote the transformation and application of research outcomes.
  3. Further expanding international influence, actively participating in global economic governance and regional economic cooperation affairs.
  4. Strengthening talent development, attracting and cultivating more outstanding economic research professionals.

Director's Message

"Insight into economic trends, service to regional development."

Dear Colleagues, Partners, and Friends,

Asia, as a vital engine of global economic growth, is undergoing profound structural transformation amid both opportunities and challenges. From the vibrant rise of the digital economy to the accelerated pursuit of green transition; from the deepening of regional economic integration to the restructuring of global supply chains — every step of Asia's economic development commands the world's attention.

Since its establishment, the Institute has been firmly rooted in Asia, tracking and analyzing major regional economic issues with rigorous academic standards and forward-looking research perspectives, contributing wisdom to understanding the complexity and diversity of the Asian economy.

We adhere to a problem-oriented approach, focusing on three core research areas:

  • Coordinated regional economic development — exploring in depth the cooperation mechanisms and pathways among Asian countries in trade, investment, and finance;
  • Industrial upgrading and digital transformation — analyzing how technological revolutions are reshaping traditional industries and the development opportunities emerging from new industries;
  • Sustainable development and inclusive growth — addressing localized solutions to global issues such as climate change and wealth disparity within the Asian context.

By building an integrated platform connecting industry, academia, research, and application, we are committed to translating research findings into practical drivers of economic development.

Going forward, AERI will continue to leverage its professional research capabilities and open collaborative approach, contributing further wisdom and solutions to the high-quality development of the Asian economy. We look forward to working with you to write a new chapter in Asian economic development!