On September 1, 2016, CIWTO invited Professor Mia Mikic, Chief of Trade Policy and Analysis of Trade, Investment and Innovation Division of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), to give a lecture on the theme of ‘Trade Developments and Mega-Regionals in Asia’ in Conference Room 1115 of Yifu Research Building. The lecture is hosted by Professor Tu Xinquan, Dean of CIWTO. More than 50 people from CIWTO and Institute of International Economy attended the lecture. Professor Mikic's wonderful lecture won loud applause from the faculty members and students present.  
  In the first part of the lecture, Prof. Mikic presented the empirical evidences of recent trade development, showing that trade of the world and of the Asia-Pacific countries had been experiencing a downward trend since 2011. She then illustrated the role that trade played in addressing economic and social problems and suggested some options for revival of trade, such as reducing trade costs, improving market access for LDCs and enhancing their competitiveness, integration through better monitoring of bilateral and regional preferential trade agreements, creating the environment for flourishing digital trade and Lifting absorptive capacity for technology and investment. In the third part of the lecture, she analyzed the evolution of preferential trade agreements by Asia-Pacific economies as well as emerging mega-regionals including APTA, RECP, TPP, FTAAP, etc.
    In the question and answer session, Prof. Mikic answered the questions from the audiences patiently, and discussed the development and future of Mega-RTAs with the students fervently. The lecture explored the frontier issues of academic research and broadened the understanding and vision of the students. At the very beginning of the new semester, this lecture also helped the new students to adjust to their role in study and research rapidly.
Translator: ZHU Hongguang
Revisor: LI Yuhao