REGIONAL OFFICE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (OAP)

Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific: Navigating Trade Headwinds and Rebalancing Growth

The IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific highlights that economic activity in Asia is holding up better than expected, despite the region bearing the brunt of US tariffs. The resilience is explained by strong exports, a tech boom, and supportive macro policies. But Asia has grown more slowly this decade than in the last, and there are risks to the current outlook. Reforms to make economic growth more resilient and sustainable will be critical. The IMF Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific hosted a seminar to present the findings of the report, discuss key drivers of regional resilience, identify critical areas for policy reform, and evaluate potential gains from deeper trade integration. 

Agenda:

Speakers' Biographies:

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    Thomas Helbling is a Swiss national and Deputy Director in the Asia Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund. In this function, he oversees the department’s work on China, Korea, and Mongolia, and on regional issues. Previously, he was the mission chief for Mexico in the Western Hemisphere Department and mission chief for Indonesia and the Philippines in the Asia Pacific Department. He has worked on a wide range of issues and countries since joining the IMF in 1994. From 2012-15, he was the chief of the World Economic Studies Division, co-directing the work on the IMF’s World Economic Outlook. From 2016-19, he was the chief of the Australia-New Zealand Division and mission chief for both countries. His recent research has focused on commodity price dynamics and global economic conditions; global oil markets; international economic policy issues; international business cycle linkages; and economic history. Mr. Helbling has a doctorate in international economics from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

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    Li CUI is an Assistant Director of the Asia and Pacific Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where she leads the department’s regional work on surveillance, cross-country research, and coordination of IMF’s policy issues.  Prior to rejoining the IMF in January 2025 in Washington DC, she had an extensive career in financial markets, based in Hong Kong, serving as the Chief Economist in financial institutions such as China Construction Bank International, Goldman Sachs, and Royal Bank of Scotland. She also held the position of Non-Executive Independent Director at a major financial institution. She spent two years at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority as a Division Head, overseeing cross-border policy cooperation and market development in the region. She began her career at the IMF, contributing to the Fund’s policy framework and country work. Li has written many articles on the Chinese and the international economy and participated frequently in economic and policy discussions. She holds a B.A. from Renmin University of China and an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Northwestern University.