Mehri Madarshahi
International Fellow, Center for China and Globalization (CCG)
Vice Chairman, Asia Pacific Consulting Group
Visiting Professor, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
Honorary Professor, Shandong University
Honorary Professor, Institute of Public Policy, South China University of Technology
From globalization to geoeconomics: Can APEC’s Open Regionalism survive the age of Economic Security?
Summary
As geopolitical tensions deepen, trade becomes increasingly politicized and technological competition intensifies, APEC faces perhaps its most important test since its creation nearly four decades ago. At its inception, it was designed as a flexible forum built on consensus, voluntary cooperation, and practical problem solving. It embodied the optimism of globalization, promoted trade liberalization, investment flows, business connectivity and regional cooperation without imposing legally binding obligations as referred to as “ open regionalism”
Today, however, one of the defining challenges facing the global economy is how to reconcile economic openness with economic security. Across both advanced and emerging economies, economic security considerations have become inseparable from trade, investment, industrial, technological and energy policies. In light of these realities APEC faces a fundamental dilemma: can it preserve its founding philosophy of open regionalism when the assumptions that gave rise to it are changing?
Speaker BIO
Following a distinguished 26-year career at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where she retired as a Senior Economist, she has collaborated with UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-Habitat, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), and leading academic institutions, including Northeastern University (Boston), New York University, and the American University of Paris. Her work has focused on promoting sustainable development through interdisciplinary research, international dialogue, and policy innovation.
In recognition of her pioneering contributions to international dialogue and sustainable development, she has received several international distinctions, including medals awarded by the Director-General of UNESCO and the Marrakesh Environment NGO. In 2012, she was honoured by the Aspen Institute (USA) for Cultural Diplomacy and her contributions to advancing the role of culture and environmental policy in global development.
She is the founder and President of the Global Cultural Networks (GCN), an international platform dedicated to fostering dialogue across cultures and disciplines. Through GCN, she promotes innovative approaches to technological transformation, sustainable urban development, the circular economy, metropolitan resilience, and cultural diplomacy.
Since 2013, she is appointed as the Honorary Professor at SCUT/IPP, visiting Professor positions at : Jinan University, Shandong University, Guangzhou University for Foreign Studies, and became Special Fellow at CCG, and Non- Residential Fellow at the Qianhai Institute for International Studies.
She is the author and contributing author of numerous publications, including the Jingdezhen Study in China, the CCG Globalization Series, Eco Civilization Global, publications of the International Center for Clreative and Sustainable Development (ICCSD), the Institute for Public Policy (IPP), and other international research journals and policy reports.
