In Asia: Weekly Insight and Features from Asia

The Asia Foundation awarded its prestigious Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Visiting Fellow Award to leading Chinese economist Cheng Siwei, and has arranged a series of high-level exchanges across the United States on China’s economic growth and challenges ahead. As former vice chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Cheng has played a key role in his country’s economic transformation over the last 20 years. As the concurrent chair of the International Finance Forum, Beijing, and president of the Association of Management Modernization, China, Cheng is intimately acquainted with a range of domestic and global economic issues confronting China today.

On October 20, Cheng will speak at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club on challenges to rebalancing China’s economy. He continues to Silicon Valley to meet with William Perry, former secretary of defense, and Stanford University faculty and students. Cheng will also present at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, the World Affairs Council in Boston, Harvard University, and the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., among others.

On October 25, he will join Arianna Huffington, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, economist Niall Ferguson, George W. Bush, former U.S. senate majority leader Tom Daschle, journalist Katie Couric, and others as a featured speaker at the 2011 Global Financial Leadership Conference in Naples, Florida.

The Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Visiting Fellow Award is named for the late Dr. Chang-Lin Tien, renowned thermal scientist, chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, and chairman of The Asia Foundation Board of Trustees.

Stay tuned for an exclusive interview in next week’s In Asia with Mr. Cheng.

While many regions of Asia have seen rapid development, the prevalence of ongoing internal conflicts in more turbulent corners remains an enduring problem that increased wealth and state power have not been able to address, impacting the dynamics of regional security cooperation. On October 18, Asia Foundation President David D. Arnold will join leading experts in Singapore for a panel discussion at The Economist‘s Banyan Conference, “Ideas for an Asian Century.” Moderated by Economist Asia editor, Dominic Ziegler, Arnold will join Kripa Sridharan, head of Research Asia, World-Check to discuss the implications these internal conflicts have on Asia’s future, as well as The Asia Foundation’s long-term efforts to address the problems that perpetuate such conflicts.

The Banyan conference is a preeminent forum where global and Asian leaders discussed perspectives and ideas on the political, cultural, economic, social and technological future of Asia. Attendees and speakers came from the worlds of government, multilateral organizations, private sector, and international NGOs. Read more about the Banyan conference.

On Oct. 7, 2011, The Asia Foundation will host a delegation of leaders from China’s top philanthropic foundations and media outlets for a panel discussion with Asia Foundation and Give2Asia senior experts on China’s growing philanthropic environment and the role of the media in promoting transparency in the sector. The delegation’s visit to the U.S. is organized by the Beijing Normal University One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute (BNU1), a joint initiative of the University and the One Foundation founded by Jet Li. As a result of increased media interest in philanthropic issues, BNU1 has expanded its training focus to include members of the media, in addition to nonprofit practitioners.

Wang Zhenyao, dean of Beijing Normal University One Foundation Philanthropy Research Institute and an Asia Foundation partner, is leading the delegation, which includes editors from China Business News, IFENG, Sohu.com, China Philanthropy Times, and others. Representatives from the Hua Min Charity Foundation, the Lao Niu Foundation, the Tencent Foundation, and several other foundations are also participating. While in San Francisco, the delegation will also meet with Half the Sky, the Google Foundation, Facebook, Twitter, and more. Earlier in their visit, they met with organizations and news outlets such as the Ford Foundation, Time Magazine, The New York Times, and the Clinton Foundation in New York.

Nearly five months have passed since Thailand elected its first-ever woman prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, younger sister of the controversial former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006. The election followed five years of political tension, a period that included a succession of disputed parliamentary elections, military intervention, blockades of airports and government buildings, and large-scale street demonstrations.

Now, citizens and pundits alike are watching how her administration moves forward on critical issues such as public services allocation, debate around her brother’s involvement in decision-making, reconciliation, the conflict in the South, and more. In this context, The Asia Foundation’s Thailand country representative, Kim McQuay, visiting from Bangkok, will lead a breakfast discussion at the Foundation’s D.C. office tomorrow about the aftermath of the election, perceptions of the new government’s performance so far, and prospects for reconciliation in the country overall. The Foundation’s director of International Relations Programs, John Brandon, will moderate.

During Thailand’s elections, In Asia featured extensive, on-the-ground election coverage and analysis from Asia Foundation experts. Watch a slideshow that captures campaign season fervor and election-day activities, taken by Asia Foundation photographers.

On October 1-2, The Asia Foundation will participate in the Filipino American International Book Festival (FilBookFest) in San Francisco, the largest gathering of authors of Filipino heritage from around the world. Philippines expert and country representative for the Philippines, Dr. Steven Rood, will speak Sunday, October 2 on a panel titled “Homeland Realities: Insider Stories about the Real Situation in the Philippines.” Other panelists include investigative journalist Marites Vitug and clinical psychologist Honey Carandang, and will be moderated by journalist Rene Ciria Cruz.

Rood will provide an insider’s perspective of the Mindanao situation, particularly the new realities of the peace talks between MILF and the government. In conflict-affected areas of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, The Asia Foundation has supported local actors in preventing escalation of localized crises, which can include endemic clan conflicts (rido), community conflicts over natural resources, and election violence. Since 2009, the Foundation has been part of the International Contact Group (ICG) for the peace talks that are being conducted between the government and the MILF, under Malaysian Facilitation.

In addition to the panel, The Asia Foundation will host a booth at the FilBookFest, where attendees can learn more about the Foundation’s programs, including Books for Asia. Read more about the event.

On Monday, September 26, The Asia Foundation will host preeminent South Asia expert, former U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, and former deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, Teresita C. Schaffer, for a conversation on the topic of her new book, How Pakistan Negotiates with the United States: Riding the Roller Coaster, at the Foundation’s headquarters in San Francisco. Ambassador Schaffer will reflect on the themes and styles that have characterized Pakistani negotiations with American civilian and military officials in recent times, both during the high points of close cooperation and the low points of deep bilateral estrangement. She will also explore the backlash and increased stress and volatility in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship since the capture of Osama bin Laden.

Ambassador Schaffer, an Asia Foundation trustee, writes frequently about Pakistan-U.S. relations on her website, South Asia Hand. She was recently interviewed on DAWN.com.

Read more or RSVP to the event, held in cooperation with the Pacific Council on International Policy.

On September 15, The Asia Foundation will host the Honorable Kevin M. Rudd, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs for a private talk and reception following his Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) meetings in San Francisco. In those meetings, Mr. Rudd will be discussing global and regional security challenges with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. The evening’s talk, also hosted by the World Affairs Council of Northern California, will include a Q&A moderated by Asia Foundation President David D. Arnold. Australia and The Asia Foundation are strategic development partners committed to delivering aid and security in the Asia-Pacific.

Below is a brief preview of Mr. Rudd’s remarks:

As economic weight shifts to Asia’s emerging giants, the role that the United States plays in our region is only becoming more important. Despite the financial troubles faced by the United States since 2008, America remains the critical economic, military, technological, and political superpower. Asia’s growing strategic importance makes it imperative to intensify focus on the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean to ensure global stability. With other regional partners, Australia and the United States must work together to build regional security through mechanisms like the East Asia Summit.

Today, we welcome readers to the first edition of In Asia’s new layout.

Since launching in early 2007, The Asia Foundation’s In Asia blog has served as a respectful source for on-the-ground perspectives on current events and issues shaping Asia and the world of development and international affairs. Drawing on first-hand insight from over 70 renowned experts in over 20 countries and guest contributions from leading policy-makers and global thinkers, In Asia will continue to guide you to and through the most critical issues facing the region – from the environment, elections, and conflict to development trends, economic challenges, and governance concerns.

The bulk of the site’s new features can be found on every page, in the left and right sidebars. Stay connected with our bloggers through In Asia‘s new “Featured” section, and check back for regular highlights on Foundation-produced surveys and publications that influence policy making and analysis. Take a look at our rotating cutting-edge videos and slideshows that provide in-country reporting about The Asia Foundation’s work and key development issues. Learn what other experts are saying through “What We’re Reading,” or check out our live Twitter feed with daily links to insightful analysis, stories, and breaking news. And take advantage of the “Related Posts” area, which provides a variety of relevant archived content on each post page.

Thanks for your continued readership and we hope you enjoy In Asia‘s new layout. For questions or comments, email Alma Freeman: afreeman@asiafound.org.

Who: The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) was established in 1997, as Asia’s first regional network of civil society organizations. It strives to promote and support democratization at national and regional levels in Asia.

What: Twenty-two COMELEC-accredited international election observers from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, arrive in Manila for a briefing-orientation prior to being fielded to all provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), in collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), 16 partner Muslim civil society organizations, and the Assembly of the Darul Ifta of the Philippines coordinated the international election observation mission. ANFREL’s effort is being conducted with support from The Asia Foundation and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). On August 1, ANFREL will be formally presented to COMELEC Chairman Jose A. R. Melo and will hold a press conference.

Where: Ballroom B, Crown Regency Hotel, 1026 Arnaiz Avenue, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City
Tel. +63 2 845.0211 to 15

RSVP: Ms. Tatine G. Faylona +63 919 6301376 or Mr. Mark Guevarra +63 927 7162441

For other information on ANFREL, please visit www.anfrel.org which also contains reports on various other ANFREL works in Asian countries

Hosted by USAID, The Asia Foundation, and The Institute for Bangsamoro Studies.

Where:     Estosan Garden Hotel, Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines
Phone +63 82 235 0888

What:    The Forum on Aceh and the Mindanao Peace Processes is a venue for comparative learning between the Aceh (Indonesia) and Mindanao peace processes. Specifically, it aims to do the following:

• identify factors that contribute to the success of the implementation of the 2005 Helsinki Agreement for Aceh;
• describe the role of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) in the initial implementation of the agreement;
• suggest recommendations that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) can consider in the ongoing peace talks from both the Aceh Peace Agreement, and locally, from the experience of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) when it forged the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) with the GRP in 1996

Speakers: Mr. Wiratmadinata, the Forum’s principal speaker, is The Asia Foundation’s William P. Fuller Fellow in Conflict Resolution for 2007-2008.  He will be joined by Major Haroun-Al-Rashid Jaji of the Philippine Army assigned with the 6th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City in Northern Mindanao and Prof. Abhoud Lingga, Executive Director of the Institute for Bangsamoro Studies. Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema will give the opening remarks.

RSVP : Cris Cayon, The Asia Foundation: ccayon@asiafound.org, or Mobile: +63 (920) 916-8711.