Professor Bert Hofman delivered the Ambassador Chito Sta Romana Memorial Lecture, “China’s Rise and Its Implications for ASEAN”, on 10 February 2023 at the GT-Toyota Auditorium, Asian Center (AC), University of the Philippines Diliman.
An economist by training, Hofman focused on the current political-economic standing of China and how this would impact the complex China-US relations and the ASEAN region. He also discussed how the current leadership of China is determined to realise the ideological path, i.e., the China dream, that has been laid out for its people.
Hofman suggested that ASEAN should strengthen its economic community to increase attraction from China, the European Union, and the US. He also encouraged the deepening and broadening of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as new members and more ambitious standards are expected to “lift all the boats”. ASEAN should also keep its doors open to the US strategically and politically and take advantage of all avenues for participation in various efforts and initiatives.
His lecture was followed by an open forum, where faculty, students, representatives of diplomatic offices, and other China watchers participated.
The Ambassador Chito Sta Romana Memorial Lecture was organised by the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies in honour of the late Ambassador and former PACS president Chito Sta Romana. It is part of a series of PACS initiatives dedicated to him.
Hofman is a professor in practice and currently director of the East Asian Center at the National University of Singapore. He previously worked for the World Bank, including a five-year stint as China’s Country Director.
The lecture was co-organised with the UP Asian Center. Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz, who succeeded Ambassador Sta Romana in China, opened the event and introduced the speaker.
