Tianjin, 26 June 2025: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe participated in the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC) of the World Economic Forum (WEF), held from 25–27 June 2025 in Tianjin, China, at the invitation of WEF President Børge Brende.

Commonly known as ‘Summer Davos’, the AMNC brought together over 1,700 global leaders from government, business, academia, civil society, and international organisations. The meeting focused on accelerating collective progress and exploring how entrepreneurship and emerging technologies can drive more dynamic, resilient, and inclusive economies. It also offered key insights into the role of emerging markets in shaping future global growth.

President Watanabe contributed to several high-level sessions, including a panel on Asia’s Silver Economy, where he discussed the implications of demographic change and the need to adjust economic strategies to capitalise on the opportunities presented by ageing societies. He also participated in closed-door dialogues on the digital economy, trilateral cooperation, and geoeconomic trends.

Throughout his engagements, President Watanabe underscored ASEAN’s strategic role in the evolving global landscape, highlighting the region’s demographic dividend, expanding digital economy, and pivotal geographic and economic position amid growing global uncertainties.

On the sidelines of the AMNC, President Watanabe held bilateral meetings with key stakeholders, including senior WEF officials, private sector leaders, and party representatives. A notable highlight was his meeting with the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, His Excellency Pham Minh Chinh.

ERIA’s presence at Summer Davos reflects its continued commitment to thought leadership and regional policy innovation, while strengthening collaboration with global partners to support ASEAN’s transformation and resilience.