This is the first in a series of web-only events by the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) entitled “Coronavirus, Asia, and the World.” In the coming weeks, ASPI will be presenting web-only programs every Tuesday and Thursday to analyze the full scope of the ramifications from the novel coronavirus for the region and the world. All events will be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook. For information about future events in this series and for ASPI’s additional coronavirus content see here.

The COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic is causing havoc to public health and economies around the world. Although, global deaths and infections outside of China have now surpassed those inside the country, China remains significantly impacted by the outbreak. As of mid-March, China had suffered over 80,000 confirmed infections and over 3,200 deaths, as well as a severe economic slowdown from the drastic measures taken to slow the spread of the virus.

As China begins to start the long trek toward recovery, the virus’s impact on its economy, society, and politics are substantial and will continue to play out for months and years to come. While China is now working to assist other countries to stem the pandemic, some critics in the U.S. have vilified China and employed racism (because the outbreak began in Wuhan) at a time when global cooperation and coordination are paramount.

Given the urgent and evolving circumstances, Asia Society Policy Institute President the Hon. Kevin Rudd will kick off the “Coronavirus, Asia, and the World” series with a presentation about the virus’s economic and political impact on China as well as the ramifications for U.S.-China relations. Asia Society Executive Vice President Tom Nagorski will moderate the discussion.

(This is a web-only event that will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Viewers can submit questions through comments on those platforms during the live stream.)

Speakers

The Hon. Kevin Rudd is inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute. He served as 26th Prime Minister of Australia (2007 to 2010, 2013) and as Foreign Minister (2010 to 2012). He is Chair of the Board of the International Peace Institute in New York, and Chair of Sanitation and Water for All, a global partnership of government and non-government organizations dedicated to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6. He is a Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House and the Paulson Institute, and a Distinguished Statesman with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is also a member of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization’s Group of Eminent Persons.

Tom Nagorski (moderator) is Executive Vice President of Asia Society. He joined the Asia Society following a three-decade career in journalism — having served most recently as Managing Editor for International Coverage at ABC News.