Asia Global Institute

21/09/2026

The wait is over—the 2026 have officially arrived in Hong Kong! The Fellows kicked off their journey with an orientation session, a welcome luncheon, and a campus tour led by HKU student ambassadors.

This first encounter wasn’t just about exploring the university—it was a meaningful exchange between emerging global leaders and the next generation of changemakers. Through shared stories, fresh perspectives, and mutual curiosity, the Fellows and students began building bridges across generations, united by a common purpose of shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Stay tuned for all the updates from the Fellows throughout their time in Hong Kong.

15/09/2026

Meet 2026 - Raquel Ramirez

Integrating regional realities into international policy is essential for governance. The AsiaGlobal Fellows Program brings together mid-career professionals to examine global issues through Asian perspectives. By grounding dialogue in regional insight, Fellows decode strategic ambiguity, foster institutional cooperation, and shape resilient economic frameworks for an interconnected world.

Our Fellows begin their Hong Kong residency this September through November. You are invited to connect and collaborate with them as they gain the vital expertise to elevate their professional impact.

Follow their journey to !
https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/fellows

08/09/2026

Meet 2026 - Ratchada Arpornsilp

Effective public policy requires navigating increasingly complex global environments. The AsiaGlobal Fellows Program equips mid-career leaders across governance, law, and enterprise to address pressing policy challenges. Through rigorous inquiry and high-level dialogue, Fellows refine their strategic frameworks, advance policy innovation, and drive sustainable solutions across sectors and borders.

Our Fellows begin their Hong Kong residency this September through November. You are invited to connect and collaborate with them as they gain the vital expertise to elevate their professional impact.

Follow their journey to !
https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/fellows

04/09/2026

Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa, AsiaGlobal Fellow 2022, and Mohamed Ibrahim Hafez, AsiaGlobal Fellow 2023, wrote in the South China Morning Post that recent joint air exercises between China and Egypt mark a significant shift in Beijing’s global power projection. They argue that after decades of expanding its economic footprint abroad, China is beginning to pair its overseas trade and infrastructure investments with the military reach necessary to safeguard them, while Egypt gains strategic leverage by deepening ties with a major global power.

Read the full article here: https://shorturl.at/qrSrb

02/09/2026

Recent research co-authored by AGI Director Heiwai Tang, former AGI Research Assistants Xinbei Zhou and Shihang Ru, and NUS Emeritus Professor Bernard Yeung was recently featured by the Stanford Center for China's Economy and Institutions (SCCEI). The study explores how returning scientists are driving China's scientific rise.

The paper explores how overseas-trained scientific talent returning to China is accelerating the nation's capacity for high-impact innovation and research excellence.

📖 Check out the article:

Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions is a joint effort of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

02/09/2026

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀? 🌐📉

When Chinese firms venture overseas (Chuhai / 出海), traditional risk indices often miss the mark. Standard frameworks evaluate host markets based on advanced-economy multinationals—overlooking the distinct institutional, regulatory, and political-economy dynamics that Chinese enterprises actually face.

Led by AGI Director Heiwai Tang, along with Research Assistants Ruotong Li and Guanzheng Sun, and Student Research Assistant Jason Song, this latest Geoeconomic Dynamics Update introduces the Chinese enterprise sector-destination investment risk index. Mapping 165 host markets across 10 key sectors, this research provides a tailored blueprint for navigating an increasingly fragmented global trade landscape. Key insights include:

• 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲: The same host market presents wildly different risk profiles depending on whether you are in Electric Vehicles, Finance, or E-commerce.
• 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁-𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Outbound investment is no longer just about seeking cheap labor—it’s driven by the need to bypass tariff walls, satisfy local-content requirements, and build resilience inside regional trade blocs.
• 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀: Quantifying risks across operational feasibility, cultural distance, regulatory compliance, macro-financial stability, and geopolitical exposure.

Whether analyzing EV supply chains in Europe or manufacturing shifts across ASEAN, understanding sector-specific vulnerability is crucial for long-term localization and growth.

📖 Read the full analysis and explore the risk index:
https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/geo-news/chuhai-mapping-risks-chinese-outbound-foreign-investment

27/08/2026

Meet 2026 - Batnairamdal Otgonshar

Geopolitical shifts are reshaping international relations and global commerce alike. The AsiaGlobal Fellows Program unites mid-career professionals across diplomacy, policy, law, and business to decode complex global dynamics. Together, Fellows elevate their strategic outlook, navigate geopolitical friction, and build enduring international partnerships.

Our Fellows begin their Hong Kong residency this September through November. You are invited to connect and collaborate with them as they gain the vital expertise to elevate their professional impact.

Follow their journey to !
https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/fellows

26/08/2026

🚀 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

At the APEC Study Center Consortium Conference held in Dalian, China on August 23, David Daigneault and Guanzheng Sun, AGI Research Assistants, presented a working paper titled "𝘈 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘋𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘗𝘌𝘊 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯." The paper was co-authored with Heiwai Tang, AGI Director.

Their research touched on several macro-level themes driving digital trade discussion today:

• 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: How modern trade agreements are incorporating data flow, e-commerce, and digital service commitments.
• 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The importance of regulatory coherence and interoperability in supporting cross-border service trade across diverse economies.
• 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The role of regional frameworks like APEC in building consensus and facilitating digital connectivity for businesses of all sizes.

While the paper remains a work in progress, we look forward to sharing more insights upon its official release!

25/08/2026

Meet 2026 - Calum Handforth

Emerging technologies demand forward-thinking leadership. The AsiaGlobal Fellows Program unites mid-career leaders working on the frontlines of AI governance, ethics, and digital health. By sharing ground-level policy expertise, Fellows elevate digital governance frameworks, foster cross-sector collaboration, and ensure AI development serves the broader public good.

Our Fellows begin their Hong Kong residency this September through November. You are invited to connect and collaborate with them as they gain the vital expertise to elevate their professional impact.

Follow their journey to !
https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/agf/fellows

25/08/2026

On August 22, Heiwai Tang (Director of the Asia Global Institute and the APEC Study Center of Hong Kong), Pamela Mar (AGI Senior Fellow and Managing Director of the Digital Standards Initiative, International Chamber of Commerce), and Bruce Pang (AsiaGlobal Fellow 2025 and Director of Research at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council) spoke at the APEC CTI Workshop, "A Comparative Study on Digital Services Trade Rules in the APEC Region," during the Third Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM3) in Dalian, China.

The half-day workshop brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academic experts, and representatives across all 21 APEC member economies to examine key challenges and best practices in regional digital services trade. The discussions highlighted crucial pathways for sustainable economic growth—focusing on legal and technical interoperability, secure cross-border data flows, and strategies to address domestic regulatory hurdles and non-tariff barriers that impede service integration across global value chains.

Stay tuned for more updates!