The Asia Foundation

Panel discussion featuring Dr. Bruce Tolentino, The Asia Foundation's Director, Economic Reform and Development; Dr. Veronique Salze-Lozac'h, The Asia Foundation's Regional Economic Director in Cambodia; Dr. Eddy Malesky, Harvard Academy Fellow at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs; and Dr. Neil McCulloch, The Asia Foundation's Director for Economic Programs in Indonesia. The panel discussed the Economic Governance Index, a tool pioneered and designed by the Foundation and used by local governments to determine how best to encourage private sector development in Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

A public release of findings from Afghanistan in 2010: A Survey of the Afghan People.

A breakfast discussion with the program manager in The Asia Foundation's Afghanistan office, sharing insights on the current situation facing Afghan women and how engaging men can improve social justice for women.

A delegation including Afghanistan's minister of education, to visit Washington and Charlottesville, Virginia, as part of a series of high-level meetings to observe the functioning of the American public education system and to meet with American educators to exchange ideas and best practices.

An in-depth Asian Perspectives seminar on "The Philippines: Challenges and Opportunities for the New Aquino Administration," providing insight into current and upcoming political, security, and social challenges facing the Philippines.

A 10-day observation program as part of The Asia Foundation's Promoting Democratic Institutions and Practices program in Bangladesh, which involved leadership training, witnessing hearings and meeting with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill, visiting Washington area NGO leaders focusing on women's issues, and meeting with the Maryland state legislature's Women's Caucus.

A visiting delegation from China's Supreme People's Court consisting of six judges who were in Washington, DC to take part in a study tour focused on highlighting key international experiences and best practices in implementing state compensation laws.

Event featuring ambassador-at-large at the U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and chief of party of The Asia Foundation's Counter Trafficking in Persons program in Cambodia.

Discussion on the importance of increasing women's influence in local mediation, as well as the challenges to safeguarding women's rights and security through informal justice mechanisms.

A discussion held at the National Geographic Society addressing the successes and challenges of working to advance the rights of women in Afghanistan.

A panel discussion on the root causes of conflict and the repercussions that disproportionately affect women,  featuring three gender and conflict experts from Nepal.

A delegation from Ghazni, Afghanistan visiting the Washington, DC area to promote goodwill and friendship and highlight the city's selection as the 2013 Capital of Islamic Culture. The delegation of Afghan government officials, including the governor of Ghazni as well as Afghan journalists, visited the nation's capital for a series of meetings before traveling to Hayward, California, the Sister City of Ghazni.

A co-hosted luncheon with Vital Voices to discuss U.S. efforts to combat trafficking, emerging research on male trafficking and human trafficking trials.

A moderated panel on human trafficking with four Nepalese gender experts.

A study-tour with training sessions and meetings with U.S. government disaster management specialists for a group of experts form China's Ministry of Civil Affairs and other provisional–level organizations.

A panel discussion focusing on the current state of reform in Indonesia, sharing perspectives on "Indonesia's Democratic Reform: Challenges and Achievements 13 Years Later."

A two-day study tour in Washington, DC for four judges focusing on intellectual property rights from the Supreme People's Court and the Beijing Intermediate Court, visiting key agencies focusing on intellectual property such as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

A two-week summer course at George Washington University's Foreign Policy Institute and a month-long fellowship placement at The Brookings Institution's Thornton China Center for a Chinese journalist visiting the U.S.

A diverse delegation of Chinese government officials, academics, and journalists visiting the Washington, DC area to learn about key issues surrounding Open Government Information (OGI).

A discussion of current developments in Thailand, featuring a presentation by the acting government spokesman and deputy secretary-general to Thailand's prime minister for political affairs.

A roundtable discussion with the U.S. ambassador to ASEAN, including a wide range of participants representing civil society, academia, and embassies from ASEAN countries.

An Asian Perspectives panel discussion featuring a journalist and community leader in southern Thailand, and a representative from the Colombo-based NGO Initiative for Political and Conflict Transformation (INPACT) in Sri Lanka, and The Asia Foundation's regional director for conflict and governance.

An event to release Asia Foundation book on Strengthening Local Economic Governance In Asia: Experience and Innovations, featuring case studies on Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

Fourteenth conference in a series of meetings that provides an opportunity for an exchange of views among key officials and scholars in the American foreign policy community and their Chinese and Japanese counterparts on critical issues to the three countries, held in Tokyo, Japan.

A roundtable discussion organized to discuss the Philippines Partnership for Growth Initiative with Washington DC-based organizations.

A luncheon discussion with two of the Asia Foundation's trustees, the director of The Asia Foundation's Center for U.S.-Korea Policy, providing perspectives and insights regarding areas in which the U.S., China, and Japan are cooperating and where policy differences remain.

Third U.S.-China-Vietnam Trilateral Dialogue in Annapolis, Maryland, examining the regional architecture of East Asia, political and security issues, and efforts at effective regional coordination of disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.

A Track II closed session two-day conference on the challenges facing the new Aquino administration, security, economics, and other issues in Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Participants included high-level officials and policymakers from the Philippines and the U.S.

A series of presentations from Asia Foundation country representatives to provide members of the Washington, DC development and policy communities with updates on current events and significant developments from the field.

A two-week summer course focused on U.S. foreign policy for three mid-career diplomats from India's Ministry of External Affairs to visit the U.S. and complete their course work with meetings in Washington, DC with policy experts and a two-week study tour built around national security, the economy, and immigration.

A co-hosted film screening with the U.S. Agency for International Development of Saving Seca, a Khmer language film used as a police training tool demonstrating best practices for ensuring the protection of trafficking victims during brothel raids and rescues.

Fourteen-person delegation representing provincial and municipal governments and universities in China to participate in a two-week administrative law seminar at the Georgetown University Law Center.

The U.S. release of The Asia Foundation's findings from its sixth public opinion poll in Afghanistan, Afghanistan in 2010: A Survey of the Afghan People.

Roundtable discussion featuring Ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya, a senior diplomat in India's Ministry of External Affairs, and an Asia Foundation regional security studies fellow. The ambassador conducted research at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace focusing on U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan and its implications for India and the region.

Discussion co-hosted with the U.S.-Indonesia Society featuring Dr. Sudarno Sumarto, The Asia Foundation's visiting fellow at Stanford University. Dr. Sumarto discussed the successes and lessons of the social safety net programs implemented by the Indonesian government in the wake of the global economic crisis and the future of Indonesia's economic development.

Discussion co-sponsored by The Asia Foundation and the South Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies featuring remarks by Ms. Indrani Bagchi, a prominent Indian journalist and The Asia Foundation's Chang-Lin Visiting Fellow. Ms. Bagchi also spoke at a discussion, co-sponsored by the Foundation and the John L. Thornton China Center at The Brookings Institution, entitled "China's Place in Indian Foreign Policy", where her remarks addressed current themes and drivers of Indian foreign policy, focusing on India's relations with China, Pakistan, and the United States.

Roundtable discussion featuring Catharin Dalpino, visiting professor at Georgetown University's Asian Studies Program, and John Brandon, The Asia Foundation's director of International Relations Programs and associate director of the Washington, DC office. The roundtable brought together experts on Southeast Asia to discuss The Asia Foundation's findings in a national public opinion survey on current political trends and democracy in Thailand.

Roundtable discussion on Nepal's progress toward peace, development, and the status of Nepal's constitutional reforms, featuring The Asia Foundation's deputy country representative in Nepal, Dr. Sagar Prasai.

Delegation from China comprised of provincial-level government officials and representatives of Chinese NGOs to participate in a USAID-funded study tour focused on public-private partnerships for disaster management in China. The delegates met with a variety of agencies to address particular aspects of disaster preparedness and relief at the national, state, and local levels.

Panel discussion featuring The Asia Foundation's country representatives in Nepal and the Philippines, Dr. George Varughese and Dr. Steven Rood respectively; Dr. William S. Cole, the Foundation's senior director for Governance, Law, and Civil Society Programs; Letitia Butler, director of policy at USAID; and moderated by Tom Carothers, vice president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The panel focused on the effectiveness of political economy approaches to economic and political development programs in both conflict and non-conflict environments.

Three-part symposium series co-hosted with The Brookings Institution in Washington and The Asia Foundation Korea Office in Seoul

Presentation of The Asia Foundation's groundbreaking survey of public opinion in Southern Thailand, Strengthening Understanding of Public Opinion in the South; Discussion by Dr. James Klein, the Foundation's country representative in Thailand (1996-2010) and Mr. Tim Meisburger, director of Election and Political Processes for The Asia Foundation.

An informal roundtable discussion to foster an exchange of ideas on the causes of subnational conflicts, with a focus on analysis of Southeast Asian ethno-religious civil conflicts and featuring a presentation by a Malaysian political scientist.

Monthly roundtable discussions on salient political, economic, and security issues important to Southeast Asia and U.S. interests in the region, cosponsored with Georgetown University's Asian Studies Program.

Two-day meeting for young emerging leaders from Asia and the United States to discuss U.S.-Asia relations and strategic competition in the Asia-Pacific, cosponsored with ISIS-Malaysia and the Pacific Forum.

The 24th Ellsworth Bunker Asian Ambassadors Dinner featuring Congressman Keith Ellison, who spoke on the topic of "Imperatives for Global Peace: Implications for Asia." The dinner was held at the Embassy of Bangladesh and co-hosted by H.E. Akramul Qader, Bangladesh's Ambassador to the United States, and Ms. Ellen Laipson, president and CEO of The Henry L. Stimson Center and member of The Asia Foundation's Board of Trustees.

The 23rd Ellsworth Bunker Asian Ambassadors Dinner featuring the Honorable Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues at the U.S. Department of State, who spoke on the topic of Women in Asia: Participation, Rights, and Basic Security. The dinner was held at The Washington Club and hosted by Mr. Douglas Bereuter, president of The Asia Foundation (2004-2010).

Program co-sponsored by The Asia Foundation, Georgetown University's Thai Studies Program, and American University's ASEAN Studies Center featuring H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and member of The Asia Foundation's Board of Trustees.

Discussion about Nepali politics and the future of the constitutional process featuring The Asia Foundation's country representative in Nepal, Dr. George Varughese.

Four-member delegation from India's Ministry of External Affairs to visit Washington, DC and participate in a study tour focused on U.S. foreign policy and its implications for the bilateral relationship with India. After a two-week course at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, the delegation undertook an observation program through New York City, New Orleans, Denver, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Support for the leading Track 2 Forum focusing on security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Policy toward the Korean Peninsula report by the Council on Foreign Relations Independent Task Force, directed by the Foundation's Center for U.S.-Korea Policy director, Scott Snyder; Closed-door workshops with U.S. and South Korean counterparts on North Korea contingency planning.

Closed-door workshops on U.S.-South Korea cooperation on nuclear energy and nonproliferation, held in collaboration with The Stimson Center and Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; Special report on New U.S.-ROK Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: A Precedent for A New Global Nuclear Architecture.

Thirteenth conference in a series held in Washington, DC that provided for an exchange of views among key officials and scholars in the American foreign policy community, and their Chinese and Japanese counterparts on issues of critical importance to the three nations.

Support for select participants from ASEAN member countries to attend this strategic dialogue roundtable held at American University that examined priority issues of concern for the United States and ASEAN nations.

Luncheon discussion on Malaysia's current political situation with The Asia Foundation's program director in Malaysia, Herizal Hazri.

Roundtable discussion with The Asia Foundation's country representative in the Philippines, Dr. Steven Rood, who provided an update on the current status of the Mindanao peace process and the Foundation's role in the International Contact Group. Dr. Rood also discussed the political environment and the legacy of the Arroyo Administration.

Washington D.C. launch of "Afghanistan in 2009: A Survey of the Afghan People" featuring The Asia Foundation's technical advisor & program officer and deputy country representative in Kabul. The speakers discussed the fifth comprehensive public opinion survey conducted in all 34 of Afghanistan's provinces, and was moderated by the director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the United States Institute of Peace.

A discussion on implementing open government information regulations, the provision of legal aid, and the promotion of transparency and fair compensation in the land requisition process in China, featuring The Asia Foundation's country representative in China, and moderated by the director for China Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS/Asia Foundation Trustee.

"What's Next for Pakistan?"

A panel discussion featuring three influential Pakistani analysts on poverty and economic policy, human rights and gender, and a widely read columnist in Pakistan. The panelists provided insights into the key challenges facing Pakistan and possible opportunities in light of the Obama Administration's Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy as well as the Kerry-Lugar and Berman legislation.

"Global Integration, Global Crisis: Challenges and Prospects for Vietnam's Development"

A panel discussion featuring the head of the business law department at Hanoi National University, director of research for the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program in Ho Chi Minh City, and The Asia Foundation's country representative in Vietnam. The panel provided insights into key challenges facing Vietnam's economy, legal reform and governance, and important factors in U.S.-Vietnam relations.

Luncheon discussion and presentation with the Foundation's country representative for Thailand providing firsthand insight and analysis of recent developments in Thailand, in particular political developments since the appointment of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in December of 2008, as well as Thai perceptions of their country's political divisions.

A discussion featuring the Foundation's country representative in the Philippines of the results of a complex series of scientific surveys launched by The Asia Foundation in the Philippines to gauge citizen attitudes, as well as the current situation in Mindanao and the prospects for peace. Dr. Richard Cronin of the Stimson Center, which hosted and co-sponsored the event, moderated the discussion.

A luncheon discussion with the Foundation's former country representative in Bangladesh and current regional director for law and governance who focuses on law and human rights, governance, criminal justice reform, elections, and Islam.

A discussion on the election results and broader trends within Islam in Indonesia, featuring the Foundation's country representative in Indonesia. The discussion topics also included trends in the country's politics and development, and how the Foundation works with Muslim organizations and women's groups to improve governance and further consolidate democracy within the country.

A luncheon discussion featuring the Foundation's former country representative in Nepal and current country representative in India, who spoke about current political events in Nepal including constitutional reform, as well as the impact of the global economic crisis in the country.

The Honorable Kurt M. Campbell

The Ellsworth Bunker Asian Ambassadors Dinner Series, featuring Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, speaking on the topic of "U.S. Policy towards Asia under the Obama Administration."

The Honorable Howard Berman

The Ellsworth Bunker Asian Ambassadors Dinner Series, featuring Congressman Howard Berman speaking on the topic of U.S. foreign policy towards Asia. Attendees included members of the Asian diplomatic community, The Asia Foundation Board of Trustees, and staff.

Support for the leading Track 2 Forum focusing on security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

Publication of findings and recommendations of companion reports entitled, America's Role in Asia: Asian and American Views, with public events in Washington DC and San Francisco, held to publicize and discuss key issues and trends in U.S.-Asian relations.

Conference featuring Dr. Steve Rood, Country Representative for the Philippines, as a speaker; and Dr. Veronique Salze-Lozac'h, The Asia Foundation's Regional Economic Director in Cambodia as moderator. This event was co-sponsored with the Southeast Asia Studies Program of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and brought together American and Filipino government officials, scholars, experts, and watchers of Philippine affairs to exchange ideas on the prospects for political reform, economic development, and peace and security in Southeast Asia's oldest democracy. The meeting looked into the issues and problems concerning democratic consolidation, reform of the Philippine Armed Forces, economic development, internal armed conflicts, and the future of bilateral partnership between the Philippines and the United States.

Conference organized by the United States Atlantic Council to foster trust-building in the effort to have a positive and concrete impact on relations between mainland China and Taiwan.

The Asia Foundation's Representative in Nepal, Mr. Nick Langton, discussed the next steps for the Nepalese parliament following Nepal's historic vote to abolish its 240-year-old monarchy on Tuesday, June 4, 2008. Mr. Langton also discussed the Foundation's role during the elections as observers and its attempts to cultivate civil-military relationships within the new Parliament.

A breakfast discussion featuring The Asia Foundation's Country Representative in Thailand, Dr. James Klein, provided first-hand insight and analysis on recent developments in Thailand since the elections of December 2007, including the current political climate and policy environment in the country and conditions in Southern Thailand.

Discussion hosted by The Asia Foundation's Country Representative in the Philippines, Dr. Steven Rood, which focused on the current situation of socio-political conditions in the Philippines, and also provided insight into rido, and the Foundation's publication, Rido: Clan feuding and Conflict Management in Mindanao, the definitive reference book on clan violence and resolution in the Philippines.

Luncheon discussion with The Asia Foundation's former Country Representative in Indonesia, Dr. Douglas E. Ramage, on current affairs within Indonesia.

Luncheon presentation featuring The Asia Foundation's Country Representative in Mongolia, Mr. William Infante. Mr. Infante discussed Mongolia's natural resources and environmental future and the Foundation's new initiative, "Securing Our Future," which promotes environmentally responsible mining and protects human and environmental health by facilitating open, participatory, and productive discussions between stakeholders.

A dinner in honor of the Afghan Parliamentary delegation under a House Democracy Assistance Commission, in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Near East South Asia Center that brought together Mongolian and Indonesian parliamentary delegations under the HDAC exchange.

Dinner hosted by The Asia Foundation, featured Senator James Webb who discussed U.S. Foreign Policy and Southeast Asia. Attendees included members of the Asian diplomatic community, The Asia Foundation Board of Trustees and staff.

Support for the Leading Track II Forum focusing on security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

Eleventh conference in a series that provided an opportunity for an exchange of views among key officials and scholars in the American foreign policy community, and their Chinese and Japanese counterparts, on issues of critical importance to the three nations.

Second conference in a series that examined regional challenges facing East Asia and constructive ways for the three nations to resolve regional problems such as the environment and transnational crime.

Seminar examining the history, politics, economics, security and other relationships between the United States and ASEAN countries.  Key policy makers and ASEAN Ambassadors in Washington met to assess the U.S.-ASEAN relationship in three panel discussions: U.S. Congressional views, Former U.S. and ASEAN Ambassadors, and the business sector.  The event was co-sponsored by The Asia Foundation and the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.

Luncheon featuring The Asia Foundation’s Afghanistan Deputy Country Representative, Dr. George Varughese and then-Pakistan Country Representative, Mr. Hamid Sharif. The event was moderated by Ms. Ellen Laipson, President and CEO of the Henry L. Stimson Center and an Asia Foundation trustee.  Dr. Varughese and Mr. Sharif provided an insight into the political developments in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Additionally, the luncheon included a presentation of the findings of The Asia Foundation survey, Afghanistan in 2006, the largest public opinion poll ever administered in Afghanistan. 

Luncheon featuring The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Vietnam, Dr. Kim Ninh. 
The focus of the discussion centered on achievements and challenges in the political,
economic, and social arenas in Vietnam.

Breakfast discussion featuring The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Afghanistan, Dr. George Varughese.  The discussion focused on the findings contained within The Asia Foundation’s publication: State Building, Political Progress, and Human Security in Afghanistan: Reflections on a Survey of the Afghan People, a compendium of Afghanistan in
2006.

Discussion with The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Indonesia, Dr. Douglas
Ramage focused on national police reform in Indonesia and the Foundation’s support of the Community Oriented Policing (COP) program, which assists police in their efforts to reform, improve services to citizens and reduce crime.  This event was co-sponsored with the Henry
L. Stimson Center.

Luncheon discussion with The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Nepal, Mr. Nick
Langton focused on the issues facing Nepal and The Asia Foundation’s role in the transition
within the country related to governance and the constituent assembly. 

Luncheon discussion featuring The Asia Foundation’s former Country Representative in
Pakistan, Mr. Hamid Sharif.  The discussion focused on the response to U.S. foreign policy
and the situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Breakfast discussion with The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Thailand, Dr.
James Klein.  The discussion centered on developments in Thailand since the military coup on September 19, 2006, and Thai perceptions of the current political environment within the
country. 

The breakfast discussion with The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in the
Philippines, Dr. Steven Rood and Mr. Jon Lindborg, Mission Director for U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) in the Philippines provided an update on the political and economic situation in the Philippines and the midterm elections in Mindanao.

Dr. Mari Pagestu – Minister of Trade, Republic of Indonesia
Dinner hosted by The Asia Foundation featuring the Honorable  Mari Pangetsu, Indonesian Minister of Trade, on the current status of the U.S.-Indonesia trade relationship.  Attendees included members of the Asian diplomatic community, Asia Foundation Board of Trustees and staff.

Leading Track II Forum focusing on Security issues in the Asia-Pacific region