GLOBAL TOWN HALL

Mayapada Tower 1 lantai 19 Unit 02, Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 28 Jakarta Selatan 12920,
email: contact@gth2020.com
web: www.gth2020.com

Jakarta, 6 November 2020

Ref. No : 0143/20
Subject : Invitation to speak at the Global Town Hall on "Rebuilding from the Covid-19
World," Friday, 20 November 2020

John Lipsky
Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute's Program on the World Economy
Executive Director of the National Bureau of Economic Research
Washington, DC, USA

Dear John Lipsky,

We trust this letter finds you well during a very exciting and dynamic time in this world.

We are writing as a group of think tanks organizing the virtual conference – Global Town Hall
2020: Around the World, Around the Clock – with the theme of “REBUILDING FROM THE
COVID-19 WORLD.”

Initiated by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), this virtual conference is a col-
laboration of 14 think tanks around the world, namely: Australia Strategic Policy Institute
(Australia), Center for Strategic International Studies (United States), Center for Strategic Stud-
ies of Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), Chatham House (United Kingdom),
Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (Mexico), Foreign Policy Community of Indone-
sia (Indonesia), International Republican Institute (United States), ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute
(Singapore), Milken Institute (United States), Observer Research Foundation (India), Paris
Peace Forum (France), Perth USAsia Centre (Australia), Valdai Discussion Club (Russia), and
World Resources Institute (United States). Additionally, we will also partner with universities in
countries where our think tank partners reside.

The purpose of the Global Town Hall is to facilitate high quality international discussions and
debate by leading minds on the state of the world amidst the COVID-19 crisis, evaluate policy
challenges and lessons learned, and gather ideas for future direction, especially in terms of how
to rebuild the world economically, socially, environmentally, diplomatically and even geopoliti-
cally.

The Global Town Hall will be a marathon of discussions from 09.00 until 24.00 (GMT+7) — in
a total of 15 hours, one full day virtual conference. We hope that the global discussion will be
viewed by participants from different time zones from LA, Washington DC, London, Berlin,
Moscow, New Delhi, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo, and Wellington, among others –
hence “Around the World.” The technical operation and logistical organization for the Global
Town Hall will be conducted from Jakarta.
 GLOBAL TOWN HALL
Mayapada Tower 1 lantai 19 Unit 02, Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 28 Jakarta Selatan 12920,
email: contact@gth2020.com
web: www.gth2020.com
There will be a tentative count of eleven sessions to be featured. The sessions at work are as fol-
low (not in order of timeline):

1. State of the COVID-19 World in 2020

2. Geopolitical Reset: Is a world of more cooperation, less rivalry possible?
3. Catching up with Climate Agenda: Small window, huge challenges
4. The Great Social Reset: Another chance to build a just, equitable, harmonious societies
5. At the edge of a cliff: How to overcome the worst economic recession of our time
6. Vaccine for All: Utopia or a possibility?
7. Rebuilding Better: Anticipating and shaping the post-COVID-19 world order & development
8. Light at the end of the tunnel: What Worries Me, What Gives Me Hope (a session featuring
celebrities)
9. Emerging Leaders Dialogue: A discussion on the future of democracy, reforms and globaliza-
tion after Covid-19
10. The Indo-Pacific and the Covid-19 Crisis: What are the next moves?
11. Welcome back America?

Through this letter we have the pleasure to invite you to speak in the session titled “At the edge
of a cliff: How to overcome the worst economic recession of our time.” This session will discuss
strategies to overcome the economic pains caused by the Covid-19 pandemic from the lens of fi-
nance and development. This virtual session will tentatively begin at about 7:15 to 8:15 (local
Washington, DC time). We understand that the choice of time may be a bit odd for your conve-
nience, but it is meant to accommodate also the speaker from the Indochina time zone, and possi-
bly from Europe. As of now we are also inviting Managing Director of World Bank Mari Elka
Pangestu and Vice President of Asian Development Bank Ahmad M. Saeed to speak in the
panel.

For your information, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has agreed to give a virtual
address to the Global Town Hall, and so has Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

The questions and key points for the discussion will be communicated to you beforehand, should
you agree to become a speaker for this session. We will also facilitate your communication with
the moderator and other panelists.

We believe the virtual Global Town Hall would further provide yet another valuable platform
and opportunity for you to speak to the officials, strategic thinkers, corporate community, ana-
lysts, journalists, lecturers and students and the general public in various countries on your
thoughts for a “COVID-19 Marshall Plan” that will contribute to the recovery of the global econ-
omy, especially during what has been said as the worst economic recession of our time. Your
decades-long expertise on emerging markets, international finance and debt, as well as your rich
experience with IGOs like International Monetary Funds and World Bank would crucially add a
valuable insight to this panel.

For coordination, you may contact FPCI staff Esther N.S. Tamara (Email:
esthernstamara@gmail.com); WhatsApp: +1 9785699277) to coordinate on logistical issues, and
to answer any questions your office might have.
 GLOBAL TOWN HALL
Mayapada Tower 1 lantai 19 Unit 02, Jl. Jendral Sudirman Kav. 28 Jakarta Selatan 12920,
email: contact@gth2020.com
web: www.gth2020.com

We sincerely hope that you will accept this invitation to join this virtual Global Town Hall. We
look forward to hearing from your office regarding this invitation. An early notice would be ap -
preciated so we can start promoting your participation in the Global Town Hall.

Thank you for your kind consideration and cooperation.

Sincerely yours,

[SIGNED]

Dr. Dino Patti Djalal Dr. Peter Jennings

Founder and Chairman of FPCI Executive Director
Cell/WhatsApp: +628176068888 Australia Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)
Email: dinodjalal@fpcindonesia.org

Dr. Luis Rubio

President
Consejo Mexicano de Asunton
Internacionales

Dr. Samir Saran

President
Observer Research Foundation (ORF)