The Asia Foundation maintained an office in Burma from 1954 to 1962, and plans to reestablish a country office in Burma in 2013 to support the country's democratic transition and long-term development needs. At this time, our programs will be coordinated from our Thailand office in Bangkok.
Since 2007, Books for Asia has been providing up-to-date educational and cutting-edge research material to improve education levels, broaden public access to information, and inform stakeholder and public debate on key national development and reform issues. Read more about Books for Asia in Burma.
Asia Foundation President David D. Arnold Meets Myanmar President U Thein Sein
From October 22-26, 2012, The Asia Foundation President David D. Arnold led an official delegation to Burma (also known as Myanmar). During this historic visit, President Arnold called on the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein on October 23 in Nay Pyi Taw. At this official meeting held at the Presidential Palace, President Thein Sein and President Arnold conducted substantive discussions on assistance for the country's development and rule of law. Last month, President Thein Sein concluded a landmark official visit to the United States, the first by a Myanmar leader since 1966. Also present were Union Ministers in the President's Office U Soe Thein, U Aung Min, and U Tin Naing Thein. The Asia Foundation delegation included David Steinberg, former Asia Foundation Deputy Representative to Burma; Gordon Hein, Vice President of Programs; and Kim N. B. Ninh, Country Representative to Vietnam. Read more about the event or view a slideshow.
The Asia Foundation Hosts Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
On September 28, 2012, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Member of Parliament, Burma and Chairperson and General Secretary, National League of Democracy, made her first Bay Area public remarks at The Asia Foundation. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi spoke to an exclusive and invitation-only audience of Bay Area political, civic, and business leaders; her remarks immediately followed a private meeting with David D. Arnold, president of The Asia Foundation, and the organization's trustees.
In order to ensure that Burma's social, political, and economic reforms are durable, The Asia Foundation is undertaking an expanded program of development assistance. Added Arnold: "The Asia Foundation maintained an office in Burma from 1954 to 1962; and since 2007 we have donated more than 80,000 books valued at $3.2 million. Our staff of international and local development experts has worked with virtually every major Asian country that has undergone a democratic transition, such as Mongolia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Korea. The Asia Foundation is well positioned to make an important contribution to the reform agenda introduced by President Thein Sein, and we look forward to partnering with the country's emerging leadership."
Read more about the event or watch the full event video.