The Launch of IMF World Economic Outlook will be on April 22, 09:00am to 11:30am, jointly organized by IMF Resident Representative Office in China and International Monetary Institute (IMI) at Renmin University of China, co-organized by China International Futures Co.,Ltd. and Research Institute of Bank of China. Mr.Steven Barnett, Senior Resident Representative of IMF in China, Mr.Li Xin, Deputy Resident Representative of IMF in China, Ms.Sonali Das, Senior Economist from IMF Research Department, will deliver keynote speeches on the world economic outlook.

Time: 09:00am-11:30am Thursday, April 22, 2021

Venue: To be informed upon successful registration

Language: Chinese/English (with simultaneous translation)

Organized by: IMF Resident Representative Office in China & International Monetary Institute (IMI), Renmin University of China

Co-organized by: China International Futures Co., Ltd. & Research Institute, Bank of China

Chaired by: Mr. Zhang Zhixiang, Former Director General of International Department of PBoC, Former IMF Executive Director for China

Agenda

09:00—09:10 Opening Remarks

Prof. Zhang Chengsi, Associate Dean, School of Finance, Renmin University

Mr. Jiang Xin, Chairman of Board, China International Futures Co., Ltd.

09:10—09:30 Presentation I

Mr. Steven Barnett, Senior Resident Representative of IMF in China

09:30—09:50 Presentation II

Mr. Li Xin, Deputy Resident Representative of IMF in China

09:50—10:10 Presentation III

Ms. Sonali Das, Senior Economist, Research Department, IMF

10:10—10:30 Presentation IV

Prof. Wu Xiaoqiu, Dean, Academy of China Capital Market, Former Vice President of Renmin University

10:30—11:10 Panel Discussion

Mr. Wei Benhua, Former Deputy Administrator, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and Former IMF Executive Director for China

Prof. Zhao Xijun, Co-Dean, Academy of China Capital Market, Renmin University

Mr. Chen Weidong, Director, Research Institute, Bank of China

Experts from China International Futures Co., Ltd.

11:10—11:30 Q&A

Bios of speakers

Mr. Barnett recently became the International Monetary Fund’s Senior Resident Representative for China. Prior to that, he worked as an Advisor to the Deputy Managing Director. For much of his career, however, he covered Asia. His positions included Chief of the China Division in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, Assistant Director at the IMF Office for Asia and the Pacific in Tokyo, Resident Representative to China, and Resident Representative to Thailand. Prior to joining the IMF in 1997, he earned his PhD in economics from the University of Maryland. He has a Bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University as well as a Master's degree in Russian and East European Studies, also from Stanford.

Mr. Xin Li is the IMF Deputy Resident Representative for China. Previously, he was a desk economist on Japan and Malaysia in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department based in Washington D.C., where he focused on macroeconomic forecasting, internal and external imbalance, and macro-structural issues while conducting research on unconventional monetary and fiscal policies, corporate saving, migrant labor, and informal economy. Prior to that, he worked as an economist in the IMF’s Office of Risk Management, building risk management tools and monitoring core risks faced by the IMF. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from Rice University; he also holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and economics (double major) from Peking University.

Ms. Sonali Das is a senior economist in the World Economic Studies Division in the IMF’s Research Department. Previously, she worked in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, where she covered China, India, Nepal, and Fiji. Her research focuses on monetary policy and financial stability. She holds a PhD in economics from Cornell University.

Prof. Wu Xiaoqiu is the Dean of Academy of China Capital Market and Former Vice President of Renmin University. Other positions he has held include First Vice Chairman of National Steering Committee for Graduate Education in Finance, member of Assessment Group (Applied Economics) of Degree Committee under the State Council, member of Assessment Panel (Disciplines of Administration) of National Fund for Social Sciences, member of Municipal Degree Committee of Beijing, member of the ninth Issuance Examination Committee of China Securities Regulation Commission, Executive Director of China Finance Society, and Director of China Center for International Economic Exchanges. Prof. Wu Xiaoqiu is one of the most influential professors in the study of capital market in China.

Background

Global economy on firmer ground, but with divergent recoveries amid high uncertainty

Global prospects remain highly uncertain one year into the pandemic. New virus mutations and the accumulating human toll raise concerns, even as growing vaccine coverage lifts sentiment. Economic recoveries are diverging across countries and sectors, reflecting variation in pandemic-induced disruptions and the extent of policy support. The outlook depends not just on the outcome of the battle between the virus and vaccines—it also hinges on how effectively economic policies deployed under high uncertainty can limit lasting damage from this unprecedented crisis.

Global growth is projected at 6 percent in 2021, moderating to 4.4 percent in 2022. The projections for 2021 and 2022 are stronger than in the October 2020 WEO. The upward revision reflects additional fiscal support in a few large economies, the anticipated vaccine-powered recovery in the second half of 2021, and continued adaptation of economic activity to subdued mobility. High uncertainty surrounds this outlook, related to the path of the pandemic, the effectiveness of policy support to provide a bridge to vaccine-powered normalization, and the evolution of financial conditions.

Registration

Please scan the QR code below to register for attendance. Due to limited seats, successful registration is subject to receipt of the confirmation email.