Upcoming event on Chinese foreign investment strategy (September 5)
On September 5, Pangea Giving will host an educational event to learn more about China’s foreign investment and how it impacts countries where our grantees works—from Myanmar to Kenya to Guatemala.
Unpacking BRI: China’s Infrastructure Plan and Its Motivations
September 5, 6:00pm–8:00pm
The 2100 Building (2100 24th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144)
In recent years, China under the leadership of Xi Jinping has embarked on an ambitious international infrastructure investment program called the Belt and Road Initiative or BRI. The initiative has seen China sign agreements or implement projects with countries worldwide, including in Southeast Asia, East Africa, and Latin America.
Dr. Spencer Cohen, Senior Economist at Community Attributes Inc., will share his thoughts on the BRI, including recent history, domestic and geopolitical context, and investment patterns throughout the developing world. He’ll also discuss implications of the BRI for economic development and growth in developing country recipients of BRI investments.
Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Reading list:
(Want to come on September 5 well informed or unable to attend? Take a look at these readings recommended by the speaker.)
- China’s Massive Belt and Road Initiative, background from the Council on Foreign Relations
- A Concise Guide to the Belt and Road Initiative, backgrounder from The National Bureau on Asian Research
- How will the Belt and Road Initiative advance China’s interests? from China Power Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies. (PDF)
- If you want to prosper, considering building roads: China’s role in African infrastructure and capital projects, report from Deloitte Insights
- China’s Eurasian Century? Political and Strategic Implications of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chapter 3: Drivers of the Belt and Road Initiative, from The National Bureau of Asian Research
Speaker:
Spencer Cohen, PhD
Senior Economist, Community Attributes, Inc.
Dr. Cohen serves as Senior Economist with Community Attributes Inc., a Seattle-based research and data analytics consulting firm. He has extensive experience in industry and market analysis, regional economic development policy, economic impact modeling, and issues related to international trade and foreign direct investment.
Spencer has advanced fluency in Mandarin Chinese, having lived and studied in China and conducted doctoral research there. He has in-depth knowledge of China-related economic and political issues, both in China and as they relate to the Pacific Northwest. His doctoral research focused on land use policy and urban government finance in China, and involved intensive use of Chinese language materials, government documents, and state enterprise bond and credit reports.
Previously, he served as senior policy advisor for the Washington Economic Development Commission, where he was responsible for evaluating state economic development programs and investments and determining ways to both optimize the state’s economic development system and improve how programs measure their impact. Spencer has a B.A. in mathematics and history, an M.A. in China studies, and a Ph.D. in economic geography from the University of Washington, focused on local government finance in China.