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Team
Our team brings together experts with deep knowledge of both Asian and Latin American affairs, working to foster cooperation and understanding between these dynamic regions.
Michiko Amemiya
Ms. Amemiya is the Director of the Institute for Pan Asia-Latin America Cooperation (iPALAC) and an iPALAC fellow on Technology, Energy, and Sustainability Research. She offers unparalleled consultancy for Asian enterprises entering the Mexican market.
With a robust academic foundation, she holds a Doctorate in Technology, Humanism, and Sustainability from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and a master's degree in Civil Engineering from UNAM. Additionally, she possesses a master's degree in Complexity Sciences from the Autonomous University of Mexico City.
Research Focus
Ms. Amemiya's research achievements are noteworthy, positioning her as a leading expert focusing on the dynamic modeling of technosocial phenomena and foresight, especially focusing on technology assessment, which involves calculating emissions and waste, as well as possible unforeseen repercussions of the introduction of technologies.
Academic Positions
In addition to her research, Ms. Amemiya has held esteemed academic positions. She serves as the Professor in the Faculty of Architecture at UNAM, specializing in the Field of Knowledge in Economics, Politics, and Environment. Moreover, she served as Head of Department at the Dirección General de Calidad y Educación en Salud within the Secretaría de Salud in late 2015.
Technical Expertise
Her technical expertise is extensive, having worked on critical projects such as the transportation services at the Mexico City International Airport, the public lighting system of the City of Juchitán de Zaragoza, the supply of drinking water to the Álamos Colony, and the management of the Calles Dam in the State of Aguascalientes. She also contributed to the Program for Marine and Regional Ecological Planning of the North Pacific in the forecasting stage and the urban planning program of the city of Terrassa, Spain.
Yueshu Zhao
Yueshu Zhao is the Director of the Institute for Pan Asia-Latin America Cooperation (iPALAC), and an iPALAC fellow on Economic Research and Chinese Investor Relations. She is serving in the International Monetary Fund conducting macroeconomic analysis and forecasting. During her tenure, she gained international exposure on economics analysis with a focus on climate change policies.
With extensive experience in emerging markets, Yueshu is known for her insightful economic analyses, featured in media outlets such as China News, Economic View, and Sina Financial Global. She holds an MA in International Economics from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor's degree in public economics from the School of Public and Social Affairs (PSPA) at Wuhan University, China.
Professional Experience
Prior to her current roles, she lent her expertise to the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE), advising on state-level economic policies focused on sustainability. She also held a position as a Research Fellow at the Sino-Africa Centre of Excellence (SACE) in Nairobi, Kenya, where she investigated various market perspectives and solutions. Yueshu's background equips her both with a global perspective and on Asian markets, with cutting-edge analytical skills, which she brings to her leadership role at iPALAC.
In Media
- In Conversation with IMF Analyst Zhao Yueshu: At the Frontline of the Global Fight Against Climate Change? – Sina News, 2024. [Sina News]
- Three Banks Go Bankrupt in Seven Days: What is Happening in the U.S.? – China News, 2023.[China News][Economic View][Sina Financial Global][人民網日本語版][Teller Report]
- With a Net Income of 5 billion Euros Last Year, why is Deutsche Bank Being Portrayed as the "Next Credit Suisse"? – China News, 2023.[China News][Sohu.com][Economic View][Teller Report]
Publication
Serhan Cevik & Nadeem Ilahi & Krzysztof Krogulski & Grace B Li & Sabiha Mohona & Yueshu Zhao, 2023. "Climate Change Mitigation and Policy Spillovers in the EU's Immediate Neighborhood," IMF Working Papers 2023/246, International Monetary Fund.[Link]
Yue Wang, M.I.A
Yue Wang brings a compelling blend of expertise in AI technology, data analysis, and international development to her role as Director of Technology, AI Innovation at IPALAC. Yue holds a Master of International Affairs (MIA) with a specialization in China and Latin America from UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy, providing a solid academic foundation for her work.
Her professional journey underscores a commitment to leveraging technology for positive change. At Qualitest, she played a pivotal role on the GenAI team, collaborating closely with Google engineers to pioneer cutting-edge Large Language Models (LLMs) and Vertex AI projects. This experience honed her skills in AI model data preparation, linguistic testing, and software internationalization.
Professional Experience
Previously, at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Yue analyzed the Ukraine crisis's impact on regions spanning Near East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Her findings were distilled into a comprehensive executive summary that informed strategic decision-making. Yue further refined her expertise in emerging markets at GreenMax Capital Advisors, contributing significantly to data analysis for the EcoMicro Dominica project, which empowered local communities. Her role extended to financial modeling and market research on energy solutions like PAYGO Solar Home Systems tailored for emerging economies.
Publication
Yue Wang, Xinrui Li, & Yueshu Zhao, 2023. "Measuring Income Group Heterogeneous Treatment Effect of Trade Openness on Unemployment Rate at Country-Year Level," Journal of Knowledge Learning and Science Technology, ISSN: 2959-6386[Link]
Xiaoli Qin, Esq., LL.M.
Qin Xiaoli is a lawyer and a postdoctoral research fellow at Columbia Law School, specializing in comparative legal studies between China and the United States. With extensive experience in commercial litigation and arbitration, he previously worked at the Shanghai office of a renowned U.S. law firm. Mr. Qin's successful representation in significant cases has been featured by China Central Television and People's Daily.
As a New York State attorney, Mr. Qin provides comprehensive legal services to Chinese companies operating in the United States. He has assisted numerous Chinese businesses in establishing independent e-commerce platforms, Amazon stores, and TikTok shops from scratch. His services encompass company incorporation, corporate governance, tax ID application, transfer pricing, tax planning, bank account opening, trademark registration, office and warehouse leasing, labor law, and contract review.
Legal Expertise
Mr. Qin has a strong track record in resolving Amazon account suspensions caused by temporary restraining orders, successfully negotiating with plaintiffs on behalf of Chinese businesses to expedite the release of frozen funds. Mr. Qin is also well-versed in U.S. immigration law, specializing in employment-based immigration categories such as EB-1A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability), EB-1C (Multinational Executive or Manager), NIW (National Interest Waiver), SIJ (Special Immigrant Juvenile), and EB-5 (Investor).
Professional Services
He also assists clients with L1, O1, and H1B visas, as well as marriage-based green card applications, providing comprehensive services from case evaluation to document preparation, application filing, and follow-up. With a deep understanding of Chinese clients' needs and characteristics, Mr. Qin helps them explore the most suitable immigration pathways to achieve their professional and personal goals in the United States. Mr. Qin has been appointed as a Notary Public by the New York Secretary of State.
Eduardo Kim
Eduardo Kim is an Urban Planner with a Bachelor's degree from the Universidad de Guadalajara and a Master's degree in Urban Environmental Management from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand. He has extensive experience working on urban resilience projects across Southeast Asia and Latin America, focusing on integrating sustainable practices into urban planning.
His research at iPALAC explores the interplay between urbanization and environmental sustainability, promoting green infrastructure and urban policies that benefit both regions.
Research Focus
Eduardo's work focuses on developing sustainable urban planning frameworks that can be applied to rapidly growing cities in both Asia and Latin America. He specializes in climate-resilient infrastructure, public transportation systems, and inclusive urban design that addresses the needs of diverse communities.
Current Projects
Eduardo is currently leading a comparative study of urban development patterns in medium-sized cities across Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, and Colombia, identifying best practices and opportunities for knowledge transfer between these regions. His work aims to create practical guidelines for sustainable urban growth that can be adapted to local contexts.
Sofia Park
Sofia Park holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and an MBA from Seoul National University in South Korea. She specializes in emerging market economies, particularly the financial integration between Latin American and Asian markets.
Sofia has worked with international financial institutions where she led initiatives on capital market development and cross-border investments. Her focus at iPALAC is to facilitate financial collaborations that support economic growth and stability in both regions.
Areas of Expertise
Sofia specializes in financial market analysis, investment strategies for emerging markets, and cross-border financial regulations. Her work helps businesses and investors navigate the complex landscape of international finance, with a particular focus on opportunities between Asian and Latin American markets.
Current Initiatives
Sofia is currently developing a comprehensive framework for assessing investment opportunities in sustainable infrastructure projects across Latin America, with a focus on attracting Asian institutional investors. Her work includes analyzing risk profiles, regulatory environments, and potential returns on investments in various sectors.
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Our Locations
Our main presence is in Mexico City, where our Director Michiko Amemiya is based. While we don't maintain a physical office, we actively collaborate with local institutions and organizations throughout the city.
Our Research Fellow Yueshu Zhao is based in Washington DC, providing us with valuable connections to policy institutions and international organizations focused on global trade and economic cooperation.
Our distributed team structure allows us to maintain a broad perspective while focusing on our core mission: fostering cooperation between Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions.