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II. Track 2: Multisectoral Policy Meetings

January

4th US-Japan-China Trilateral Conference
Date: January 6–8, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Sponsors: Japan Center for International Exchange; Brookings Institution; China Foreign Affairs University; cooperating institutions included Peking University and the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Nearly 30 senior policy experts from China, Japan, and the United States gathered in Beijing for the fourth US-Japan-China Trilateral Conference. Over a period of two days, members covered various aspects of the complex trilateral relationship, ranging from the inter-linkages among domestic politics and foreign policy in the three countries to energy issues and regional challenges such as cross-strait relations and North Korea. Additional meetings were also held on January 6th and 7th with Chinese officials.
For information, see:
http://www.jcie.or.jp/thinknet/usjapanchina.html

ASEF Workshop on Irregular Migration
Date: January 7–9, 2008
Location: Malaysia
Organizers/Sponsors: Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
Scholars from Asia and Europe convened for a workshop titled, "Now You See Them, Now You Don't: Defining Irregular Migrants in Europe and Asia and the Immigration Measures Applied to Them." The aim of the workshop was to examine the definition of irregular migration and discuss country responses to irregular migration issues. By looking at different European and Asian country case studies, the goal was to compare irregular migration across different social and political contexts. A variety of papers were presented, and the participants concluded that more academic discussions on irregular migration should take place between European and Asian scholars.
For information, see:
http://www.asia-alliance.org/node/131

11th Regional Outlook Forum
Date: January 8, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Sponsors: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)
Researchers from around the Asia-Pacific region gathered for the annual Regional Outlook Forum organized by ISEAS. Participants examined regional security issues such as the relationship among the United States and East Asia, India's changing strategic profile in East and Southeast Asia, the transitioning international system, and China's forward-looking strategy and policy. Also discussed were both the progress and challenges of ASEAN integration. In addition, the participants examined the economics of environmental disaster and its socio-cultural impacts as well as the economic and business environment in the countries of Southeast Asia. Other topics included political trends in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, and the turbulent social movements occurring in Indonesia and Thailand. Based on this forum, ISEAS publishes both a forum summary and its Regional Outlook: Southeast Asia series each year.
For information, see:
http://www.iseas.edu.sg/7jan08a.pdf

Capacity Building Seminar on Environment Mainstreaming Using the Application of Green Growth Policy Tools in Sustainable Development Decision Making
Date: January 14–15, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Sponsors: UNESCAP
Designed by UNESCAP's Green Growth team and attended by government leaders and civil servants, the three day workshop focused on environment and sustainable economic growth. The participants discussed the five tracks of UNESCAP's Green Growth program-green tax and budget reform, development of sustainable infrastructure, green businesses and environment as business opportunities, promotion of sustainable consumption and production, and development of "eco-efficiency" indicators-and their application in government policies and measures.
For information, see:
http://www.greengrowth.org/events.asp

Workshop on Capacity Building for National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans
Date: January 14–18, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Sponsors: ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
Policy makers and experts on biodiversity from 23 Asian countries and various international organizations met to review progress in the development, implementation, and review of the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Participating countries included Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, China, DPRK, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia.
For information, see:
http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org/index.php?view=details&id=4%3ACapacity-Building-for-National-Biodiversity-Strategies-and-Action-Plans&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=89

International Workshop: "External Impacts on Freedom and Democratization in Southeast Asia"
Date: January 15–17, 2008
Location: Bandung, Indonesia
Organizers/Sponsors: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung; UNPAR
This workshop aimed to measure and analyze external impacts on democratization processes underway in Southeast Asia as well as to evaluate the success of the effort by international development agencies to promote good governance and democracy in the region.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/73/2/-/-/veranstaltung_id-28783/

Panel Discussions on Climate Change, the human Welfare Aspects of MDGs and Avian Influenza/Pandemic Preparedness
Date: January 16, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Sponsors: UNESCAP
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/calendar/2008/2008.pdf

International Conference on Regional Integration-Asia and Europe Compared
Date: January 17, 2008
Location: Venice, Italy
Organizers/Sponsors: Universita Ca Foscari; Euro-Asia Center, University of Limerick, Venice
The conference, attended by European and Asian academics, examined the successes, challenges, and steps forward for economic and political integration in Asia, using the European integration experience as a framework for comparison. The discussions included individual country experiences in Asia, including Korea's external economic strategy, environmental challenges in China and India, and India's economic performance, policies, and prospects. The participants looked at general issues facing the region, such as FDI and technology transfer, economic integration and competitiveness, monetary relations and macroeconomic concerns, and security issues. The participants also examined issues specifically concerning the relationship between the two regions, including whether the EU pursues a regionalist agenda in Asia, and the possible economic impacts of an EU-ASEAN free trade agreement.
For information, see:
http://www.dse.unive.it/uploads/media/Programma_13.01.08.pdf

Sentosa Roundtable on Asian Security 2008
Date: January 17–18, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Sponsors: Sasakawa Pan Asia Fund (Sasakawa Peace Foundation)
With a focus on building a security community, the annual roundtable gathered experts from Japan, the United States, Australia, and Thailand to explore new ideas for the management of peace and security in the region. This year, participants discussed the significance of intergovernmental institutions in regional community building in Asia, examining ASEAN, ASEAN+3, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, and APEC. They also looked at regional NGOs such as the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies, the Council for Security Cooperation in Asia-Pacific, and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council. The roundtable concluded that both top-down (fashioned by regional governments) and bottom-up (fashioned by non-governmental entities) approaches were necessary, but that the effectiveness of these efforts have been constrained by regional conditions such as lack of state capacity, dependence on sovereignty and nonintervention norms, and great-power dynamics.
For information, see:
http://www.spf.org/e/project/2008/a3_06e.html
http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/conference_reports/RSIS_Sentosa_RoundTable_08_final.pdf

Asian Perspectives on the Future Role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Date: January 18, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Sponsors: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES); Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
Senior experts from ministries of finance, central banks, the IMF, and think tanks gathered for a second meeting in a series focusing on the current situation and reform of the IMF. The outcomes of these regional meetings were presented at a side event to the IMF/World Bank meeting in April 2008.This Singapore meeting focused on Asian perspectives toward the IMF and the issues and challenges associated with reform of the institution.
For information, see:
http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/global/05169.pdf

Conference on the India-China-USA Triangle
Date: January 21–23, 2008
Location: Kerala, India
Organizers/Sponsors: Center for National Renaissance of India
The Centre for National Renaissance (CNR), an Indian think tank, in association with Harvard's John Fairbank Center and Tsinghua University's Institute for International Studies and Centre for China in the World Economy, hosted and organized a three-day international conference on the India-China-US triangle. Participants discussed academic papers they had prepared on four main questions: (1) Will India and China continue to grow economically and militarily in the coming decades or are there obstacles to such growth? (2) Will India and China, as future candidates for developed country status, be an economic opportunity for or a threat to the projected US economic situation in terms of jobs, access to energy, and innovations? (3) Will the United States be able to strategically partner with India, China, or both for a new world order? (4) How politically stable will India and China be in future decades?
For information, see:
http://www.indiaright.org/activities3.htm
1st APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting of 2008
Date: January 21–23, 2008
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Organizers/Sponsors: APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
The ABAC, created by APEC leaders in 1995 to advise member economies on matters of primary importance to business in the region, focused its 2008 meeting on how globalization should lead to sustainable development for all economies. To that end, the council met with APEC senior officials to make recommendations on intergovernmental processes. Major priorities included further exploration of the concept of a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific, the WTO Doha Development Round, and business facilitation. Energy security and climate change was a major priority as well, with proposals presented on ways to achieve the APEC regional goal to reduce energy intensity by 25 percent by 2030. The council is developing a multi-year roadmap to address wealth creation, poverty reduction, and stability in the APEC region capital markets. In addition, it is exploring social security and safety net issues, deepening and strengthening capital markets, and improving infrastructure and regulation.
For information, see:
http://www.abaconline.org/v4/download.php?ContentID=4235

Workshop on Research Activities on Avian Influenza and other Transboundary Animal diseases in Southeast Asia / International Symposium on Avian Influenza
Date: January 21–22, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD); Royal Veterinary College of the University of London; World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Bringing together more than 50 scientists from a number of disciplines from the region and abroad to share their research on various aspects of avian influenza and other transboundary diseases, the ultimate aim of the workshop was to discuss the promotion of science-based disease risk management in Southeast Asia. Specifically, the participants reviewed what is known about the main transboundary animal diseases (TADs) present in the region and sought to identify the most important knowledge gaps research still outstanding. The workshop's sessions included research on the ecology and epidemiology of avian influenza and other TADs in Southeast Asia, the human impacts of the spread of TADs, and the control and prevention of the diseases.
For information, see:
http://www.hpai-research.net/docs/mtg080121_abstracts.pdf
http://www.hpai-research.net/docs/mtg080121_programme.pdf

2nd Japan-US-Asia Dialogue: An East Asian Community and the United States
Date: January 22, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Sponsors: Global Forum of Japan; Council on East Asian Community; Pacific Forum CSIS; supported by Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership
Split into two sessions, almost 100 participants gathered to discuss and exchange opinions on matters of significant importance related to the future of Japan-US-Asia relations. The first session focused on "Community Building after the Second Joint Statement on East Asian Cooperation," with the second focusing on "An East Asian Community and the US." Keynote speakers included members of academia, government, and research institutions from across East Asia and the United States.
For information, see:
http://www.gfj.jp/eng/dialogue/27/main.pdf
http://www.gfj.jp/eng/dialogue/27/cp.pdf

1st Regular Meeting of 2008 of the Advisory Group on APEC Financial System Capacity Building
Date: January 23, 2008
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Organizers/Sponsors: ABAC-PECC
The finance ministers of the 21 APEC member economies established the Advisory Group on APEC Financial System Capacity Building at a meeting in 2003. They created the group with three major goals in mind: (1) to collaborate in strengthening and developing the region's financial systems; (2) to promote public-private sector collaboration in these capacity-building efforts; (3) and to create a platform from which to exchange information on these efforts. The group's agenda for its 2008 work program included undertaking the coordination of the second APEC Public-Private Sector Forum on Bond Market Development, developing specific proposals on capacity-building that could be endorsed by the APEC finance ministers, exchanging information and updates on current initiatives by participating organizations, finalizing the work program, preparing the agenda for the second Forum on Bond Market Development, and identifying steps to address these issues until the next regular meeting.
For information, see:
http://www.abaconline.org/v4/download.php?ContentID=4195

Asia Regional Task Force on Urban Risk Reduction (RTF-URR) Brainstorming Meeting
Date: January 23–24, 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Organizers/Sponsors: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center; Asian Disaster Reduction Center; Disaster Recovery Institute; Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI); International Recovery Platform Secretariat; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Kobe University; Kyoto University; United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD); United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); UN-Habitat; United Nations/International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR); United Nations University (UNU); World Health Organization (WHO)
Recently opened in Kobe, UN/ISDR was created to develop synergy in disaster risk reduction in the region and to act as a focal point for the functioning of the RTF-URR. The long-term goal of the RTF-URR is to influence the urban policy of various vulnerable countries to enable and strengthen urban risk reduction and contribute to building resilient city environments. The brainstorming meeting provided an opportunity for the participants to facilitate cooperation among agencies; share information and minimize overlap; promote joint local, national, and regional activities; and promote action to take advantage of ongoing priority initiatives globally and regionally. Participants also discussed the feasibility of establishing a regional task force on urban disaster risk. Member organizations included various UN agencies, JICA, Kobe University, Kyoto University, and the WHO.
For information, see:
http://www.adrc.asia/events/RTFmeeting20080130/PDF_Presentations/Minutes_RTF-URR1-Kobe_Final.pdf

UN Regional Forum on Bioenergy Development
Date: January 23–25, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Sponsors: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
The forum addressed issues including the current status of bio-energy development in Asia and the Pacific and emerging bio-energy technologies, balancing its potential benefits with the risks associated with environmental degradation and food security, financing bio-energy projects, and recommendations on viable policy options for bio-energy development. Policymakers working on agro-industry and bio-energy issues from Asia Pacific countries, along with UN experts and representatives from the private sector, participated in this forum.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2008/jan/n02.asp

Aid for Trade and Development: Global and Regional Perspectives
Date: January 24–25, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Sponsors: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
At this pre-event to the 12th UN Conference on Trade and Development, representatives from the donor community and from the major UN agencies active in development cooperation discussed ways to sustain momentum for implementation of the World Trade Organization's Aid for Trade initiative and the supportive role to be played by the UN system in promoting development and helping to bring about a reduction in poverty. The participants discussed the opportunities for trade to serve as a catalyst for progress in their nations in light of the increased globalization and economic liberalization expected to result from the Doha Round and other trade talks and agreements. Participants in the meeting noted that the Aid for Trade initiative must be sizeable and act as an addition to current aid programs to respond to the vast needs for trade development in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
For information, see:
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=14941&info=not

4th Regional Dialogue of Air Quality Management Initiatives and Programs in Asia
Date: January 30–31, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Sponsors: Clean Air Initiative (CAI)-Asia Center and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
31 participants representing 21 development agencies and programs focusing on air quality management, energy management, and climate change mitigation in Asia identified a variety of potential areas for collaboration during the regional dialogue. Among the trends discussed, they looked at air quality in Asian cities and the regional air quality priorities, and identified gaps in financing of air quality management (AQM). In addition, the CAI-Asia Center presented the results of its annual Asia-wide survey that covers organizations working in AQM-related areas.
For information, see:
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/articles-72366_Report.pdf

February

4th Meeting of the Track II Study on the Feasibility of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Arrangement for East Asia
Date: February 1–2, 2008
Location: New Delhi, India
Organizers/Supporters: 10th Asian Security Conference: Asian Security in the 21st Century
This conference aimed to contribute to the process of regional economic integration in Asia and to provide input for the third East Asia Summit (EAS) in November 2007. Participants, who included the heads of policy think tanks, eminent scholars, academics, and senior government officials, deliberated on the economic, strategic, and business perspectives of the relevance of Asian economic integration in the EAS framework and such specific issues concerning integration of trade and investment regimes, and monetary and financial cooperation. In recent years, Asian countries have begun to exploit the potential of regionalism for their development. A virtual economic community is emerging from a complex web of free trade agreements (FTAs) linking ASEAN and its six dialogue partners. However, these FTAs remain suboptimal as they fail to provide a seamless regional market important for fuller exploitation of the potential synergies. The participants agreed that a broader regional architecture was needed to complement these initiatives.
For information, see:
http://www.newasiaforum.org/pb33.pdf

15th IUSTI Asia Pacific Congress
Date: February 3–6, 2008
Location: Dubai
Organizers/Supporters: International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI)
Held in conjunction with the second annual International Infectious Disease Congress, more than 500 participants from 47 countries convened on the subject of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with special focus on HIV/AIDS. The objectives of the union were to bring together all forces devoted to the fight against the STIs and HIV/AIDS, and to promote activities throughout the world aimed at research, prevention, and control of the diseases and to encourage its members to contribute to public health programs. There were also workshops on dermatology and HIV case scenarios.
For information, see:
http://www.iusti.org/regions/IUSTI-AP2008.pdf
http://www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/Display/ConfDisplay.asp?ConfNbr=6362

10th Asian Security Conference: Asian Security in the 21st Century
Date: February 5–7, 2008
Location: New Delhi, India
Organizers/Supporters: Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses
The 10th conference attained particular significance in view of the continuing trouble spots in the continent and the wider implications these would have for international stability and security as a whole. It focused on the myriad of challenges to Asian security in the 21st century, with particular reference to the strategic outlook of major political actors in Asia, the emerging challenges to the nuclear order, the future of Afghanistan, the challenges posed by transnational terror networks and sectarian violence, and the multilateral framework for managing conflict and fostering cooperation among political actors in Asia. The conference featured six sessions seeking to address the major trends in the Asian strategic context and to suggest creative solutions for management of conflict and cooperation in the new century. It was attended by ministers, diplomats, scholars, and security analysts, both from India and abroad.
For information, see:
http://www.idsa.in/node/984

ASEAN Regional Workshop on Gender Equality Legislation
Date: February 13–15, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters: ASEAN; UNIFEM; hosted by the Office of Women's Affairs and Family Development of the Thai Ministry of Human Security and Social Development
The workshop brought together legal drafters and technical staff of the national women's organizations, ministries of justice, and gender equality advocates from ten ASEAN countries and East Timor to discuss gender equality legislation. The workshop provided participants a theoretical framework for drafting and analyzing gender equality laws in terms of the scope, substantive content, effective monitoring, and implementation mechanisms as prescribed by the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). A comparative study of good practices from around the globe and from the Southeast Asian region was also presented to offer practical guidance to legal drafters and gender advocates for better laws on gender equality. In addition, the workshop contributed to the skill building of legal practitioners and further promoted ASEAN partnership and cooperation toward the effective implementation of the CEDAW.
For information, see:
http://unifem-eseasia.org/newsroom/ASEAN_Regional_Workshop_GE_Legislation.html

4th Trilateral Defense Workshop on Jeju "Peace Island"
Date: February 18, 2008
Location: Jeju, South Korea
Organizers/Sponsors: Korea Institute for Defense Analysis
Researchers, senior military, and civilian officials from Korean, Japanese, and US defense ministries met under the theme, "The Military's Role in Responding to New Security Threats in the 21st Century." The participants discussed joint military cooperation for disaster relief in the Asia-Pacific region through a Track 1.5 approach. The workshop included presentations by researchers from the three participating countries, providing insights as to how each country had dealt with a variety of disasters. The main focus points included disaster relief cooperation in man-made disasters such as oil spills, large-scale epidemics such as avian flu, and natural disasters such as earthquakes.
For information, see:
http://www.kida.re.kr/eng/kidanews/kidanews_03_view.htm?Uid=853&pageNo=2&term=regdate&sDate=&eDate=&sword=

4th ROK-US-Japan Security Workshop
Date: February 18–19, 2008
Location: Jeju Island, Korea
Organizers/Supporters: Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA); Institute for Defense Analyses; National Institute for Defense Studies
The 2008 ROK-US-Japan security workshop searched for an effective way to deal with non-conventional security threats, including national disasters. The annual workshops, organized this year by KIDA, are hosted in rotation by research institutes of the three countries, and are conducted as Track 1.5 meetings, involving both government officials, including defense officers from each country, as well as nongovernmental representatives.
For information, see:
http://kida.re.kr/eng/cooperation/cooperation_03.htm

3rd East Asian Symposium on Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Date: February 19–21, 2008
Location: Kunitachi, Japan
Organizers/Supporters: Hitotsubashi University
Academic experts gathered to promote exchange of academic experiences and dissemination of sustainable development strategies in East Asia. The symposium's goals included facilitating academic research cooperation and collaboration in environmental and natural resource economics, discussing and exchanging academic experiences and practices on sustainable development, promoting research cooperation in environmental and natural resource economics, and discussing the practical procedures of establishing an East Asian association of environmental economics. It was organized into two plenary sessions, "Circular Economies for Sustainable Development in East Asia" and "Environmental Governance for Sustainable Development in East Asia."
For information, see:
http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/seeps/meeting/eas3/EAS3-program.pdf

Expert Group Meeting on Urban Safety for the Poor in Asia and the Pacific
Date: February 26–27, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters: UNESCAP
Seven experts from the private sector and academia met with United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) representatives to discuss urban safety for the poor as part of the Safer Cities Asia initiative. Safer Cities Asia encompasses a three year UNESCAP-UNHABITAT regional initiative titled "Pro-Poor Urban Safety through Local Government Capacity Building in Asia-Pacific" that began in 2006. The project addresses the safety concerns that generate fear and insecurity in urban poor communities. It aims to build the capacity of urban local governments and their partners in initiating effective safety policies for the poor with the support of community-based organizations, local government training programs, and research institutions in the Asia-Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/pdd/calendar/EGM_urban_safety/EGM_urban_safety_feb08.asp

ESCAP/ITC High-Level Consultation on Trade in Services for Regional Integration
Date: February 28–29, 2008
Location: Macao, China
Organizers/Supporters: UNESCAP Trade and Investment Division; International Trade Centre (ITC)
This meeting brought together a variety of stakeholders from government, academia, and the private sector to examine trends and developments arising from the services liberalization efforts driven by multilateral and bilateral/regional negotiations. The consultations were expected to generate policy guidance on desirable services trade strategies for the developing and the least developed countries. Sessions covered the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the current services round: intra-regional services trade and market access beyond GATS; tourism-related services and regulation; examples from the banking and insurance, logistics, and transport sectors on regulation; policy innovation and business opportunities in environmental services; supply chains and the role of off-shoring and outsourcing services.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/tid/projects/tradeservice.asp

9th EADN Annual Forum
Date: February 28–29, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters: East Asian Development Network (EADN)
The annual forum brought together 48 scholars and experts from EADN members, the International Development Research Centre, Australian National University, and Doshisha University, among other institutions. It was divided into seven sessions covering the presentation of individual research projects as well as a final session on future activities. Some of the presentation topics included mapping East Asia competitiveness in monetary and the real sector, the economic integration of ASEAN, and various policy implications in Vietnam. Participants also discussed the impacts of temporary labor migration, economic fluctuations in East Asian economies, food security, the Malaysian micro-electronics sector, and the social impact of market liberalization.
For information, see:
http://www.eadn.org/2007conference.htm

March

10th Session of the Regional Thematic working Group on International Migration, including Human Trafficking
Date: March 4, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters: UNESCAP
Established in 2005, the working group consists of 16 UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations that focus on issues related to international migration.The group met four times in 2008 to share information on recent activities undertaken to address international migration issues such as human trafficking. Its activities culminated in October 2008 with the publication of the Situation Report on International Migration in East and South-East Asia, which identified recent levels and patterns of international migration at national and subregional levels in the region. The report provided an overview of the multidimensional aspects of international migration and explored specific migration issues such as gender, health, and regional cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/EDC/English/Commissions/E64/E64_16E.pdf

2nd ARF Peacekeeping Experts' Meeting
Date: March 4–6, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
Under the theme of "Planning for Peace Operations-Achieving Mission Success in Diverse Environments," the objective of the second ARF peacekeeping experts' meeting was to provide an overview of the diverse range of peace operations and to enhance knowledge of peace operations planning. It further aimed to develop an almanac of planning points of contact and a planning template that might be modified for wider operations. The meeting was organized into keynote addresses, plenary discussion sessions, and discussions focusing on specific aspects of planning for peacekeeping operations planning, including military planning, pre-deployment training, command and information operation considerations, logistics, and medical support.
For information, see:
http://www.aseanregionalforum.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=cP%2bbpKLW3KE%3d&tabid=66&mid=1009

ADB-OECD Expert Meeting on Beneficial Private Sector Participation in Water and Sanitation
Date: March 5, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters: Asian Development Bank (ADB); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The expert meeting aimed to advance the debate on private sector participation in the water and sanitation sector by providing a forum for participants to discuss and better define the key elements of a beneficial partnership. After the New Partnership for Africa's Development-OECD investment initiative roundtable organized in Lusaka in November 2007, the ADB-OECD expert meeting was the second opportunity to discuss the draft OECD guidance on private sector participation in water and sanitation infrastructure, which built on the experience of Asian countries. The meeting was organized into sessions focusing on the broad principles to private sector participation, a conducive institutional and regulatory environment, and the responsibilities of various stakeholders. Participants also discussed access to financing as a major constraint to the development of the water and sanitation sector and to further involvement of the private sector.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/events/2008/ADB-OECD/default.asp

APEC Business Forum on Energy
Date: March 5, 2008
Location: Iquitos, Peru
Organizers/Supporters: APEC
In conjunction with the meeting of the APEC Working Group on Energy, a meeting was held bringing together participants from a range of Peruvian business sectors with APEC representatives. The Forum included a presentation showing the Peru's main domestic energy projects, through which Peru hopes to become a net exporter of energy.
For information, see:
http://www.portofentry.com/site/root/resources/industry_news/5751.html

A New Nuclear World Order: Asian Perspectives
Date: March 6–7, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Brookings Institution; Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
In order to explore the direction of current debate on nuclear policy, and to ensure an Asian input, the workshop convened experts from China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States for a discussion on the future of nuclear weapons. Participants focused both on regional nuclear developments in South Asia and East Asia, as well as changes and challenges at the global level. Participants reached consensus that the South Asian scenario would be relatively insulated from shifts in America's nuclear posture. Apprehension was voiced by attendees as to whether a dramatic reduction in warheads would decrease the credibility of the US nuclear umbrella in Asia. With this in mind, some participants stressed the need for better dialogue and consultation mechanisms between the United States and its Asian allies.
For information, see:
http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/cag/Past_Events.aspx
http://www.cbasia.org/conference/CBAsia2008-public-final.pdf

Rising Asia: The Next 10 Years
Date: March 10, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA); AXN ASIA
Attended by political, academic, and business leaders from throughout Asia, the dialogue raised pressing issues that Asia is facing today. The first session, "Engaging Asia: Competition and Cooperation," discussed trends that shape the Asian economy. Participants evaluated how corporations in the region can remain competitive and can better equip themselves to seize the opportunities for economic growth. Lead discussants also shared their views on desirable public governance in relation to business engagement. The second session, "Leadership and Public Governance in Asia," drew attention to the continued political vulnerabilities in the region and possible solutions to these weaknesses. Panelists discussed the role of public governance and difficulties in translating ideas into policies and practices timely and effectively. 10 influential individuals who have exemplified the current success and future leadership of Asia were also honored.
For information, see:
http://www.siiaonline.org/?q=events/rising-asia-the-next-10-years

Joint Conference on European and Asian Integration: Achievements and Challenges
Date: March 10, 2008
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Organizers/Supporters: Asian Development Bank (ADB); European Commission
This conference aimed to shed light on how Asian monetary and financial integration, which is still at an early stage despite several initiatives, could be further enhanced to cope with global financial turmoil through lessons learned from the EU. Participants compared and contrasted the EU and Asian experiences, and discussed the applicability to Asia of EU integration and cooperation processes, regional practices, and decision-making mechanisms. Approximately 150 participants from various state governments, think tanks, the business sector, academia, NGOs, and the media participated.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/European-Asian-Integration/default.asp

High-level Workshop on Community-based Disaster Risk Management in PDR SEA-4
Date: March 10–11, 2008
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Organizers/Supporters: UNESCAP
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/calendar/2008/2008.pdf

International Conference on the Implications of the ASEAN Charter for East Asian Integration
Date: March 12, 2008
Location: Pasay City, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:AIM Policy Center; Fidel V. Ramos Research Chair in Policy Studies; Japan Economic Foundation
The high-level conference brought together Asian leaders to discuss the prospects for regional integration through bilateral and regional free trade agreements. The conference sought to explore current developments toward regional integration, particularly in the context of the newly crafted ASEAN Charter. The conference's three sessions included topics on the changing environment of Asian economic integration, opportunities for and obstacles to East Asian integration, and the development of ASEAN as precursor of East Asian integration. The last session completed via video conference linking ASEAN officials in Singapore with the conference participants in the Philippines.
For information, see:
http://www.policy.aim.edu.ph/asean_charter.asp

12th Session of the Consultative Meeting of Executive Heads of Sub-regional Organizations and ESCAP
Date: March 12–13, 2008
Location: Noumea, New Caledonia
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
At the 12th session, executive leaders of various subregional organizations met under the theme, "Promoting Asia-Pacific Linkages through Regional Cooperation." The participants included leaders from UNESCAP, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and the ASEAN Secretariat as well as various agencies of the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific. The consultation meeting was held in response to a request for stronger support for Pacific island states made by the New York-based organization Pacific Ambassadors in September 2007. At the meeting, the UNESCAP executive secretary heard from the assembled Pacific leaders about how UNESCAP can better serve their countries' needs. A roundtable consultation on Pacific connectivity was also organized to bring together public and private sector organizations to discuss ways of enhancing connectivity in the Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.bruegel.org/fileadmin/files/admin/research_initiatives/asia_europe_economic_forum/AEEF_March_2008/AEEF_March08_summary.pdf

Workshop on Economic and Financial Linkages between Asia and Europe
Date: March 13, 2008
Location: Belgium
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Economic Forum; National Bank of Belgium
The one-day event was intended to provide an opportunity for in-depth exchanges of views on the economic and financial linkages between Asia and Europe, with a particular emphasis on the way the ongoing crisis is affecting both areas. The first session focused on the implications of recent macroeconomic and financial developments for Europe and Asia, while the second session focused on the channels of economic interdependence between the two regions. In this session, the participants described the strong economic and financial links between Asia and Europe and discussed how the recent developments have affected the short and medium-term prospects of an adjustment to global imbalances. In third session, participants discussed the financial interdependence between Europe and Asia, particularly with regard to the challenges and the opportunities presented by sovereign wealth funds (state-owned investment funds). High-level experts from Asia and Europe participated in the event.
For information, see:
http://www.policy.aim.edu.ph/asean_charter.asp

Business Awareness Creating Seminar on the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement
Date: March 13, 2008
Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Participants from the private and government sectors gathered to enhance awareness about the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) and promote trade under the APTA among the business community of Sri Lanka. Attended by the UNESCAP director for trade and investment, the meeting included discussion on the results of the APTA's Third Round and issues of rules of origin. Presentations were made on the potential benefits of the APTA for Sri Lankan business, including a roundtable discussion between representatives from the Sri Lankan business community and APTA participating states on APTA's Fourth Round and the implications for developing trade and business relations between Sri Lanka and other APTA states.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/tid/projects/apta_bac.asp

Asian Mediation Retreat 2008
Date: March 15–17, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters: China Institute of International Studies (CIIS); Center for Humanitarian Dialogue; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway
The Asian Mediation Retreat is a component of the Oslo Forum, a process to improve practice in conflict mediation led by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Over 50 officials and scholars from Norway, the United States, Russia, the UK, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, and Sri Lanka as well as representatives from the UN, the EU, and ASEAN attended the event. The participants discussed topics such as Asian mediation practices, big power negotiations and the challenge of reconciliation, energy politics and conflict, and mediation and security in fragile states.
For information, see:
http://www.ciis.org.cn/en/newsevents2.asp?NewsID=20080328120310486&ClassName=Conferences

Forum on Clean Energy, Good Governance and Regulation
Date: March 16–18, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters: Centre on Asia and Globalisation; World Resources Institute, Prayas Energy Group; the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership; support from the Asian Development Bank
The workshop brought together electricity regulators, civil society members, and independent experts from South and Southeast Asia, the United States, the UK, and Australia to exchange views on innovative approaches to promoting clean energy through regulatory processes. Participating electricity regulators from India, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand prepared case studies of their institutions' initiatives to promote sustainable energy, which served as the basis for the discussions.
For information, see:
http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/cag/News.aspx

1st Meeting of Japan-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group
Date: March 18, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN
The establishment of the Japan-ASEAN Eminent Persons Group was agreed upon at the 10th ASEAN-Japan Summit with the aim of offering concrete recommendations from a wide point of view, to further deepen future cooperation between Japan and ASEAN, and to broaden the strategic partnership between Japan and ASEAN.
For information, see:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2008/3/0310.html

Workshop on International Year of Sanitation
Date: March 20, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
In the UNESCAP region, World Water Day 2008 highlighted sanitation issues in accordance with the International Year of Sanitation 2008. Under the theme, "Accelerating Progress on Sanitation to Help Save Lives and Foster Economic and Social Development," the goal was to raise awareness and to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goal target to reduce the current 2.4 billion people without access to basic sanitation in half by 2015. A special program was formulated in keeping with the 2008 theme, including a week-long exhibition and roundtable workshop on the International Year of Sanitation. Several water and sanitation-related agencies of Thailand and international organizations working in the region as well as experts from governments, NGOs, and the private sector took part in the event.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esd/water/events/wwd/2008/

Tokyo Peacebuilders Symposium 2008: Peacebuilding Experience and Knowledge from Asa to the World
Date: March 24–25, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters: United Nations University; Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
With participation from a broad range of peace building practitioners and academics from Asia and other regions, the symposium drew on the various insights and suggestions from the participants on contributing to peace building from an Asian perspective and strengthening the regional and global networks in the peace building field. Topics included Cambodia and Timor-Leste's experiences in peace building, state building and governance, community development and human security in Asia, and promoting Asian contributions to global peace building.
For information, see:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/pko/symposium0803.html

3rd Meeting of the CSCAP Study Group on Asia Pacific Cooperation for Energy Security
Date: March 24–26, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP); co-chaired by CSCAP-Singapore and CSCAP-India
The two main objectives of the study group are to produce a monograph volume comprising a series of expert papers on energy security cooperation in Asia as well as a shorter memorandum outlining the broad thrust of the group's objectives. While the second meeting of the study group focused on issues such as the development of alternative fuels, energy markets, and common sharing of infrastructure, the Beijing meeting, composed of 28 participants, looked into issues relating to interdependency and cooperative security measures. The meetings included sessions on prospects for a common energy market in Asia, cooperation in infrastructure security, prospects for common stockpiling of energy resources, and alternative options to traditional fuel sources.
For information, see:
http://www.cscap.org/uploads/docs/Energy%20Security/3EnergySecMtgRpt.pdf

PECC-ABAC Conference: Demographic Change and International Labor Mobility in the Asia Pacific Region-Implications for Business and Cooperation
Date: March 25–26, 2008
Location: Seoul, Korea
Organizers/Supporters: Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC); ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC); Korea Power Engineering Company (KOPEC); and Korea Labor Institute
The PECC-ABAC conference on demographic change and international labor mobility in the Asia Pacific region aimed at assessing the normative basis of those policies from the national and regional perspectives. The event examined and developed the agenda for policy cooperation among the APEC governments, undertook a descriptive analysis of the current international labor movement trends in the APEC region and assessed future trends, and analyzed the impacts of these trends on the economies of destination and origin as well as on the APEC region as a whole. The conference brought together a wide range of experts, including labor migration and social policy experts, officials from PECC economies, foreign ministry officials, business leaders, and experts from international organizations such as the International Labor Organization and International Organization for Migration.
For information, see:
http://www.pecc.org/research/labour-mobility

East Asia Forum Dialogue
Date: March 26, 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Organizers/Supporters: Australia National University (ANU)
The forum, which provides a national platform for research and intellectual dialogue on Australia's interests in East Asian regional cooperation, was led by ANU academics and analyzed the major issues facing the region-economic development, energy and environmental security, terrorism, and security. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered his first major foreign policy address at the ANU dinner, sharing memories of his time at ANU and as a diplomat in China with the audience, and outlining his vision for Australia's role in East Asia. The meeting brought together more than 60 top policymakers, leading scholars, and business figures from throughout the Asia Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.crawford.anu.edu.au/events/calendar/more.php?id=199
http://info.anu.edu.au/mac/Newsletters_and_Journals/On_Campus/095PP_2008/06PP_April1/_pmforum.asp

5th Disaster Management Practicioners Workshop on Community-based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM)
Date: March 26–, 2008
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Organizers/Supporters: UNESCAP
The fifth workshop focused on "Sustaining Partnerships: Meeting the Challenges of Scaling Up CBDRM Programs" and contained four sub-themes-revisiting the link between CBDRR and development, sharing of best practices and lessons learned on CBDRR, strengthening partnerships on CBDRR, and CBDRR skill building. It aimed to provide a venue for disaster management practitioners in South East Asia and other parts of the region to discuss lessons learned in managing and sustaining CBDRR program initiatives. The workshop was attended by disaster management practitioners from at-risk communities, government agencies, nongovernment organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and the media in Southeast Asia and other sub-regions of Asia.
For information, see:
http://210.185.184.53/ndccWeb/images/stories/5thdmpworkshopbrochure.pdf
http://www.jtic.org/en/jtic/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=338&Itemid=90

East Asia Workshop on Transparency and Integrity in the Water Sector
Date: March 27–28, 2008
Location: Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:IBON Foundation; Water Integrity Network (WIN)
The workshop brought together water sector stakeholders and anti-corruption advocates to share ideas and experiences on promoting transparency, improving accountability, and preventing corruption. It aimed to promote awareness on corruption and transparency issues and their impact on the water sector in the sub-region; promote sharing of experiences, initiatives, and strategies at the national and sub-regional levels; promote tools and strategies for ensuring transparency, integrity, and accountability in the water sector; establish new partnerships between water sector and anti-corruption advocates and organizations; and forge commitments and create proposals for WIN activities. Around 50 participants from East Asia participated in the workshop, including representatives from water resources sectors and anti-corruption advocates, civil society organizations, nongovernment organizations, media, government, and the private sector.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/East-Asia-Workshop/default.asp

Promoting Regulatory Reform in Support of ASEAN Market Integration
Date: March 27–28, 2008
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Organizers/Supporters:World Bank
The workshop aimed to support CMLV countries' needs for regulatory reform and help implement regulatory change in advance of the proposed ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The participants agreed that meeting the AEC challenge will demand new policies to increase economic growth, strengthen economic competitiveness, increase domestic and foreign direct investments, and expand private sector enterprises. As such, the acceleration of the AEC will bring the need for regulatory reform by participating members in order to adapt and comply with the new regulatory landscape being created.
For information, see:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/WBI/WBIPROGRAMS/ICLP/0,,contentMDK:21745583~pagePK:64156158~piPK:64152884~theSitePK:461150,00.html

April

12th Japan-US-China Trilateral Security Conference
Date: April 1–2, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS), Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); support from Center for Global Partnership (CGP) and US-Japan Foundation (USJF)
The purpose of the 12th conference was to explore how Japan, the United States, and China could promote their trilateral cooperation on security issues in a broad context, from military operations to environmental cooperation. The three countries face a diversified series of bilateral and trilateral security concerns, and one of the themes of the conference was to highlight the increasing importance of non-traditional security issues in the trilateral relationship, although traditional security issues should also not be underestimated. The topics of discussion at the meeting included US-Japan relations, the nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and cross-strait relations, and environmental issues relevant to the three countries.
For information, see:
http://www.rips.or.jp/from_rips/seminar/us_china.html
http://www.csis.org/pacfor/programs/
http://csis.org/event/12th-japan-us-china-conference-trilateral-security-cooperation

2nd Meeting of the (Renewed) Study Group on Facilitating Maritime Security Cooperation
Date: April 2–3, 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
The objective of the Seoul meeting, hosted by CSCAP's South Korean branch, was to develop guidelines for maritime cooperation in enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, including issues requiring functional cooperation and joint management arrangements. The meeting concluded that cooperation in the many seas of the Asia Pacific was still far from desirable, largely due to the existence of sovereignty disputes and the lack of agreed maritime boundaries. The meeting was attended by 28 experts from the 13 CSCAP branches.
For information, see:
http://www.cscap.org/uploads/docs/Facilitating%20Maritime%20Coop/2MaritimeCoopMtgRptApr08.pdf?phpMyAdmin=jBX72H9Re0blXKb%2CZ50SBlWGwq1

5th Disaster Management Practitioners Workshop
Date: April 2–4, 2008
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Disaster Preparedness Center; United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
The fifth workshop focused on "Sustaining Partnerships: Meeting the Challenges of Scaling Up Community Based Disaster Risk Programs" and aimed to provide a venue for disaster management practitioners in Southeast Asia and other parts of the region to discuss lessons learned in managing and sustaining community cased disaster risk reduction program initiatives. The workshop was attended by disaster management practitioners from at-risk communities, government agencies, civil society, academic institutions, and the media from Southeast Asia and other Asian sub-regions.
For information, see:
http://www.jtic.org/en/jtic/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=338&Itemid=90

Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) 2nd Meeting of the Regional Water Knowledge Hubs Network
Date: April 2–5, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:PUB Singapore; Asia-Pacific Water Forum; facilitated by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
The APWF was conceived to increase the region's access to improved water supplies and sanitation, protect and restore river basins, and reduce vulnerability to water disasters. It is composed of development institutions committed to solving the region's water issues. Built upon the results of the first meeting in October 2007, the forum continued discussions on establishing a network of water knowledge hubs. The meeting's objectives were to peer review the business plans developed by the candidate regional water knowledge hubs using guidelines circulated in January 2008, fine-tune the business plans through a workshop, and develop the work program and organizational arrangements of the APWF's Network of Regional Water Knowledge Hubs.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/APWF-Khubs-Meeting/default.asp

Micro-Economic Foundations of Economic Policy Performance in Asia
Date: April 3–4, 2008
Location: New Delhi, India
Organizers/Supporters:National Council of Applied Economic Research; East Asia Bureau of Economic Research
The working conference carried forward research and dialogue on issues of microeconomic and institutional foundations of South Asian integration and economic policy performance. Four sessions with a panel of experts focused on the following themes-the role of micro-economic policy reform in regional integration, institutional foundations of economic reform and integration, Asian trade potential and existing trade and investment structures, and regional cooperation and economic growth through integration in Asia.
For information, see:
http://www.eaber.org/intranet/publish/get_content.php?pid=10&name=NCAER-EABER_Programme_3-4april2008.pdf

Williamsburg Conference: The Role Of Islam In Multi-Cultural Asia and The Changing Role Of The United States In The Region
Date: April 3–6, 2008
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Society and Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Over 50 leaders from government, business, academia, civil society, and journalism convened to discuss both the changing role of Islam and of the United States in Asia. Six years ago, American and Asian leaders gathered seven months after the terrorist attacks in the United States to discuss the global economic downturn, the prospects for a new generation of leaders in Asia, the role of the United States in the region, and terrorism. These same pressing issues were examined even deeper in this conversation. Participants discussed ways to promote understanding of Islam in the United States and throughout the Western world and also addressed the issue of the changing role of the United States in the region, including Asian advice to the next US president.
For information, see:
http://www.asiasociety.org/files/pdf/williamsburg08.pdf

Financing Village-Level Energy for Development in Asia and the Pacific Region
Date: April 9–11, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Dozens of energy experts from across Asia met to help the ADB formulate a new strategic approach to increase access to modern forms of energy for the 1 billion people in Asia without electricity. More than 60 representatives from governments, financial institutions, and civil society attended the three-day workshop at the ADB looking at how the organization can develop a new strategic approach to mainstream support for replicating and scaling up successful initiatives to increase access to modern energy services. The workshop is part of ADB's "Energy for All" initiative, which is being financed by a $2.3 million grant from the Netherlands, and helps ADB build on its expertise and respond to requests from its developing member countries to implement energy access projects aimed at a more efficient use of energy for the rural and urban poor.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/Financing-Village-Energy/

5th United States Asia Pacific Council Conference: New Challenges in a Changing Environment
Date: April 11, 2008
Location: Washington DC, USA
Organizers/Supporters:East-West Center
The program featured commentary from distinguished experts from business, government, and policy institutions. Topics discussed included Asia's changing role in global trade and finance, emerging challenges in key US bilateral relations, Congressional initiatives toward Asia, and trends in Asian and US public opinion. The conference keynote speaker was John D. Negroponte, US deputy secretary of state, who identified three major tasks that the United States faces in the coming decade in Asia: (1) further improving regional cooperation to complement existing bilateral security alliances, (2) promoting continued prosperity, and (3) accommodating rising Asian powers into the international system while also challenging them to assume global leadership on major international issues.
For information, see:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/ewc-in-washington/us-asia-pacific-council/conference/
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/resources/washington/usapc/dcconf0408.pdf

Boao Forum for Asia 2008: Green Asia-Moving toward Win-Win Through Changes
Date: April 11–13, 2008
Location: Boao, Hainan, China
Organizers/Supporters:
More than 1,700 officials, business leaders, intellectuals, and journalists from around the globe gathered under the theme, "Green Asia-Moving toward Win-Win Through Change." Among various country and private sector experiences discussed, topics at the conference included public-private partnerships in the green energy sector, financial reform, climate change, telecommunications, socially responsible investing, and Internet 3.0. In addition, several country case studies were presented. Established in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia is a pan-Asian platform of dialogue for key issues relating to Asia and the world.
For information, see:
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90002/93786/index.html

4th NEAT Working Group Meeting on East Asian Financial Cooperation
Date: April 12–13, 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Organizers/Supporters:Network of East Asian Think Tanks (NEAT)
Scholars and experts from the 10 ASEAN member countries, China, Japan, and Korea participated in the working group. The discussions included topics such as the impact of global financial turmoil on East Asia, policy recommendations for Chiang Mai Initiative multilateralization (self-managed reserve pooling), Asian currency cooperation, and cooperation on the Asian Bond Markets Initiative among financial sectors.
For information, see:
http://www.neat.org.cn/english/hzdten/contentshow.php?content_id=103

2nd Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers
Date: April 14–18, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)
The conference assembled over 50 participants, mainly national security officers, to encourage a shared understanding in the fight against terrorism and to deliberate on other national security challenges. The first session dealt with the national security strategic framework adopted by Singapore. The second session was a broader debate on national security and the concept of resilience, while the third discussed the overview of domestic and international terrorism. Sessions four through eight dealt with state resilience in different forms, while the final section discussed risk assessment and horizon scanning.
For information, see:
http://www.rsis.edu.sg/publications/conference_reports/APPSNO_08.pdf
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Digital-Library/Publications/Detail/?ots591=0C54E3B3-1E9C-BE1E-2C24-A6A8C7060233&lng=en&id=57108

Workshop on ASEAN Community: Unblocking the Roadblocks
Date: April 15, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)
The closed-door workshop gathered Southeast Asian experts for a brainstorming session on the nature of the proposed ASEAN Community, including the three pillars of the ASEAN Economic Community, the ASEAN Security Community, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. The participants examined the benefits expected from regional community building for Southeast Asia and the obstacles that stand in the way of its achievement. The participants discussed the newly signed ASEAN Charter, including the significance of its provisions, how it could help build the ASEAN Community, and how it might fall short of doing so. The participants also received a short briefing on the aims and functions of the ISEAS ASEAN Studies Centre, which was launched in July 2008.
For information, see:
http://www.iseas.edu.sg/aseanstudiescentre/rs_asc1.html

2nd Expert Group Meeting on Eco-efficiency Indicators
Date: April 17–18, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The second expert group meeting convened to review and discuss UNESCAP's initiative to create eco-efficiency indicators (EEI) to assess the sustainability of economic growth in the Asia Pacific region and discuss the outcomes from a preliminary calculation of a set of potential EEI for some countries in the region. The participants also discussed the practical aspects of EEI development, such as data quality and availability. International and regional experts in the field of eco-efficiency indicators, experts from relevant academic institutions and national statistics offices, and representatives from UN agencies and other international organizations attended the meeting.
For information, see:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greengrowth.org%2Fdownload%2F2008%2Feei-egm2%2FConceptNote.pdf&ei=KLcuS5aRGYbusgOJwLWIBA&usg=AFQjCNHxXDKDlaTqVLcvtcgpgFsjxCXWiA&sig2=aK0d2zqRVj08mX8sI1D91A

Concluding Regional Workshop on Sharing Experience and Expertise on Building Community Resilience to Natural Disasters through Partnership
Date: April 21–23, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
A concluding regional workshop was held for the UNESCAP program on building community resilience to natural disasters, an initiative that promoted regional cooperation in disaster risk management. At the workshop, participants discussed a final discussion paper that documented the process and outcomes of UNESCAP capacity building. The workshop was attended by UN representatives, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and over 40 experts from nine UNESCAP-member countries that had been affected by the 2004 tsunami, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esd/water/publications/2008/building_community_resilence/documents/Building%20Community%20Resilience-part%201.pdf

US-Japan Workshop on the Co-benefits of Climate Actions in Asia
Date: April 22, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, and the US Environmental Protection Agency
The workshop examined opportunities for enhancing the policy impact of co-benefits initiatives on climate change in Asia. Prominent speakers from Japan and the United States, along with participants from China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand exchanged the views on the policies and measures to achieve developmental goals while also reducing emissions of global greenhouse gases. The discussions touched on the achievements and future prospects of co-benefit initiatives launched by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Environment Japan, the Clean Air Initiative-Asia, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission of the Asia Pacific. Participants also discussed the obstacles to capturing co-benefits in the transportation sector and the need for recognizing and rewarding co-benefits in the post-2012 climate regime.
For information, see:
http://www.iges.or.jp/en/cp/activity21.html

Kick-off Meeting of Asia-Pacific Gateway to Climate Change and Development
Date: April 22–23, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Organized to coincide with the launch of the Asia-Pacific Gateway to Climate and Development—a platform to assist Asia Pacific countries in making concrete efforts to address climate and development—the participants discussed efforts to support the integration of climate adaptation measures into development policies and discussed the promotion of a co-benefits approach to addressing climate change. Participants from 14 countries participated, including government officers in charge of development planning and climate change.
For information, see:
http://www.climateanddevelopment.org/apgateway20080423_Kickoff_meeting.html

Conference on Key Development Issues in Asia
Date: April 24, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
This conference addressed some of the key emerging development issues in Asia. Topics discussed included the challenges facing infrastructure development in Asia and infrastructure's role in lowering Asia's trade costs, lessons from Europe in constructing an Asian currency unit, emerging Asian economies' recent experience in managing capital flows, and the role of organic agriculture as one of the most promising market-based solutions to mitigate climate change. Participants also explored how to contribute to the income and non-income targets of the Millennium Development Goals, the eight international development goals that the vast majority of UN members have agreed to achieve by 2015. It also discussed the role of ADB's capacity building and training programs in promoting the adoption and implementation of best practices in development management.
For information, see:
http://www.adbi.org/event/2518.key.development.issues.asia/

Dialogue among APEC Economies, Business Community, and Key International and Regional Partners on Emergency Preparedness
Date: April 24–25, 2008
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Organizers/Supporters:Ministry of Foreign Affairs; National Committee for Research and Rescue of Vietnam
In response to Vietnam's initiatives to cope with the huge destruction caused by natural disasters, a dialogue was held on emergency preparedness among the APEC economies, the business community, and key international and regional partners. In particular, delegates from Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam shared their experiences on relief, recovery, and reconstruction after catastrophic events. The result of the seminar were to be reported to the Task Force for Emergency Preparedness and the APEC Foreign and Trade Ministerial Summit in 2008.
For information, see:
http://aimp.apec.org/Documents/2008/TFEP/TFEP1/08_tfep1_005.pdf

PECC Regional Institutional Architecture Task Force Meeting
Date: April 25, 2008
Location: Washington DC, USA
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and US-Asia Pacific Council
The seminar on regional institutional architecture launched a two-year task force to assess the current architecture of the region. This task force will examine the environment in which regional cooperation takes place and will produce a set of recommendations for the region's leaders on the design of a regional architecture.
For information, see:
http://www.hkcpec.org/files/06_som2_016.pdf+PECC+Regional+Institutional+Architecture+Task+Force+Meeting&hl=en&gl=jp
http://www.pecc.org/architecture/default.htm

7th Meeting of the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council
Date: April 26, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Consisting of 23 senior business executives from the region, the UNESCAP Business Advisory Council gathered under the theme, "Energy Security: Opportunities through Regional Energy Cooperation and Public-Private Partnerships." Each year, the Asia-Pacific Business Forum has been attended by over 250 participants, including trade and investment policymakers, senior executives of major businesses, and senior representatives of international development agencies.
For information, see:
ttp://www.unescap.org/tid/cti09/6e.pdf
http://sundaytimes.lk/080525/FinancialTimes/ft312.html

Asia-Pacific Business Forum 2008: Energy Security-Opportunities through Regional Energy Cooperation and Public-Private Partnerships
Date: April 27, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
Over 250 participants from government, the business community, civil society, international organizations, and academia convened under the theme of "Energy Security: Opportunities through Regional Energy Cooperation and Public-Private Partnerships." In particular, they discussed issues pertaining to the provision of energy security and sustainable development, and made recommendations to enhance energy security through regional cooperation and public-private partnerships.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/apbf/APBF2008-Outcomes.pdf

3rd Northeast Asia Forum
Date: April 28, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Japan); Xinhua News Agency (China); JoongAng Ilbo (South Korea)
More than 40 prominent political, business, and academic experts from China, Japan, and South Korea called for closer cultural and educational cooperation at the forum. They proposed a series of measures including compiling a dictionary that would show the use of Chinese characters to convey different meanings in different countries, establishing a culture ministers' meeting mechanism to resolve differences and promote understanding, the creation of a scholarship fund to increase opportunities for young people to pursue cultural exchanges, and the establishment of a program exploring the history of rice farming as an integral part of the region's history. They also discussed promoting joint events with high public visibility in the cultural sphere, covering such areas as theater, music, and folklore. In addition, participants explored establishing language centers at selected universities to promote language education among young students.
For information, see:
http://www.china.org.cn/international/conferences/2008-04/29/content_15033959.htm

Regional Workshop on Poverty Reduction and Social Development in ASEAN: toward an ASEAN Roadmap for the Implementation of MDGs Plus
Date: April 28–29, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Sponsors: ASEAN
This workshop was the culmination of a research project led by scholars from the Australian National University. The project was conducted under Phase II of the Regional Economic Policy Support Facility (REPSF), which is a component of the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program. REPSF II (January 2007-June 2008) focused on economic integration and cooperation between ASEAN and the other EAS participants.
The research examined progress toward achievement of the first seven development MDGs in the eight developing members of ASEAN. Broadly speaking, the results indicated that the more developed ASEAN countries are better advanced towards achievement of the MDGs than the less developed ASEAN member states. The prospects of some countries achieving their MDGs is mixed, as is the prospect of achieving certain MDG targets, such as poverty reduction, maternal mortality and environmental protection. The research identified common challenges among the above eight countries and some of the lessons learned and best practices adopted in these countries. An abstract of the final report is available online.
For information, see: http://www.aseansec.org/aadcp/repsf/docs/07-007-Abstract.pdf

2008 Energy Security Conference: Opportunities and Constraints-Prospects for Russian Oil and Gas Supply to Asia
Date: April 29–30, 2008
Location: Washington DC, USA
Organizers/Supporters:National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR)
Representatives from corporations, government, and academia convened for the fourth annual Energy Security Conference under the theme of "Opportunities and Constraints: Prospects for Russian Oil and Gas Supply to Asia." Participants examined a range of issues, including the role of energy in Russia's strategic vision, regional perspectives on Russia as a reliable energy supplier, and implications for US policy in the region.
For information, see:
http://www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id=eda9541a-2682-49f3-8755-b4b2dae612ff

May

15th ASEAN-ISIS Colloquium on Human Rights (AICOHR)
Date: May 1–2, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN and Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS)
This year's AICOHR focused on the opportunities for the ASEAN human rights body. Among those present at AICOHR were experts from human rights mechanisms in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. They presented the evolution and dynamics of their respective systems from which their counterparts in Southeast Asia can draw lessons from. Speakers from the region discussed other challenges and the corresponding opportunities that are facing the human rights body. One of the most contentious issues was ASEAN's practice of deciding by consensus. Some participants feared that ASEAN will be unable to detail the full potential of the human rights body if it is too accommodating to the differing views of ASEAN governments. Others, however, noted that a consensus vote will encourage ASEAN governments to be more open to a human rights body that will meet all international human rights standards.
For information, see:
http://www.aseanhrmech.org/news/human-rights-advocates-discuss-hr-body.html

The Experiments with Democracy in East and Southeast Asia: Two Decades After
Date: May 2–3, 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Organizers/Supporters:Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong; sponsored by Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange and Hang Seng Bank Golden Jubilee Education Fund for Research
The conference evaluated the achievements of and explored the continuing challenges to the new and revived democracies that have emerged in East and Southeast Asia in the past two decades. It built on works carried out at the center on regional development with democratic forms of governance. The conference featured four sessions-examining the social and political developments subsequent to the transitions, emerging challenges to the new democracies, evaluating newly-emerged political and democratic institutions in the region, and reviewing the impacts of the transition on global and regional dynamics.
For information, see:
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/FR/NIKKEI/inasia/future/2008/

41st ADB Annual Meeting
Date: May 3–6, 2008
Location: Madrid, Spain
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The annual meetings are occasions for the board of governors to provide guidance on ADB administrative, financial, and operational directions. The 41st meeting focused on the theme of how the ADB can evolve with a changing Asia. Gathering in Madrid for the four-day program were some 3,000 participants, including government ministers, financiers, academics, media, and representatives of international organizations and civil society. In addition to three business sessions, the meeting included a seminar series on issues such as the emerging Asian economies, changing market dynamics, trends in financial innovation and transparency, private-public partnerships, large urban infrastructure projects, investment for climate change mitigation and adaptation, economic integration, and Strategy 2020, the ADB's new long-term strategic framework. The meeting also featured a program for civil society representatives, which included meetings with senior officials, an open forum on ADB-civil society cooperation, panel discussions on labor standards and safeguards to protect the poor, and discussions on long-term energy imperatives in Asia.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/AnnualMeeting/2008

2008 Northeast Asian Energy Outlook
Date: May 6, 2008
Location: Washington DC, USA
Organizers/Supporters:Korea Economic Institute
The policy seminar on energy security and diplomacy in Northeast Asia featured an overview of the energy sectors of Korea, Japan, and China. Panel topics included energy use projections and energy security in Northeast Asia; energy diplomacy in the region; and renewable, alternative, and clean energies. Participants included experts from non-governmental and academic institutions as well as government officials from Northeast Asia and the United States.
For information, see:
http://www.keia.org/Asian_Energy_Outlook_2008.php

5th Meeting of the Working Group on Energy Planning and Policy (WG-EPP)
Date: May 7–8, 2008
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Korean Energy Economics Institute, UNESCAP
The main purpose of the fifth WG-EPP meeting was to review the strategy on the Northeast Energy Development Potential Report, prepare for the second Northeast Asia Government-Business Dialogue, and discuss a five-year strategy for energy cooperation in Northeast Asia (NEA). The meeting also reviewed coal trade in Northeast Asia and progress on the Trust Fund on Energy Cooperation in NEA.
For information, see:
http://www.keei.re.kr/main.nsf/index_en.html

UNESCAP 2nd Meeting on Developing Effective Policies and Practices to Manage Problematic Drug Use of Young People in the Greater Mekong Sub-region
Date: May 7–9, 2008
Location: Vientiane, Laos PDR
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The fifth meeting began with an overview of the coal trade in Northeast Asia. Participants then reviewed the strategy on the Northeast Energy Development Potential Report and implementation plan, and discussed preparations for the second Northeast Asia Government-Business Dialogue. In addition, the participants discussed a five-year strategy for energy cooperation in Northeast Asia, including progress on the Trust Fund on Energy Cooperation in Northeast Asia.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/calendar/2008/2008.pdf

NEAT Working Group Meeting on East Asian Investment Cooperation
Date: May 9–10, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Network of East Asian Think Tanks (NEAT)
Scholars and experts from eight ASEAN member countries as well as China, Japan, and South Korea participated in the meeting. Discussions focused on opportunities for East Asian cooperation on infrastructure investment, including suggestions concerning the creation of an East Asian infrastructure investment fund.
For information, see:
http://www.neat.org.cn/english/hzdten/contentshow.php?content_id=104

Contemporary Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia: Structures, Institutions, and Agency
Date: May 9–10, 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Organizers/Supporters:Southeast Asia Research Centre
The aim of this workshop organized by the Southeast Asia Research Centre was to develop new methodological tools by which to consider whether distinctive new forms of authoritarianism are emerging in Southeast Asia. The workshop papers became the basis for a special issue of The Pacific Review. A dozen researchers from Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, the UK, Australia, and Japan participated in the event.
For information, see:
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/searc/

East Asia Investment Forum 2008: East Asia Investment Cooperation in the Context of Global Financial Turbulence
Date: May 11, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Network of East Asia Think-Tanks (NEAT)
Scholars and experts from the ASEAN member countries, with the exception of Brunei and Myanmar, as well as experts from China, Japan, and South Korea, participated in the NEAT working group meeting on East Asian investment cooperation, hosted by China Foreign Affairs University. The discussions focused on issues of East Asian cooperation concerning infrastructure investment, with several participants suggesting the creation of an East Asian infrastructure investment fund.
For information, see:
http://www.neat.org.cn/english/hzdten/contentshow.php?content_id=105

Expert Group Meeting on Progress on International Commitments to Combat HIV/AIDS in the Asian and Pacific Region
Date: May 12–13, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
An expert group meeting convened to identify common challenges in the Asia-Pacific region with regard to HIV/AIDS and to produce a set of concrete recommendations ahead of the UN High Level Meeting on AIDS to be held in June 2008, where progress with regard to universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment and education and the achievement of commitments made under UN General Assembly resolutions was to be discussed. Experts from academia, health ministries, regional and national health organizations, and UN agencies took part in the meeting.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esid/hds/mtg/12may/aidsmay08.asp

2nd APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting of 2008
Date: May 12–14, 2008
Location: Moscow, Russia
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
Established in 1995 by APEC, ABAC meets four times a year and advises APEC officials on business priorities and concerns. It is a private sector body representing a diverse range of fields and includes small and large enterprises. The second ABAC covered a broad range of current economic issues, such as the global credit market contraction, impacts of shortages in the supply of basic food products and subsequent marked increases in prices, and the situation in the Doha Development Agenda round of multilateral trade negotiations. Participants worked on a report on these issues to be submitted to the leaders of the 21 APEC economies. ABAC also reviewed proposals to further reduce the transaction costs of trade, improve the climate for investment, address the need for a comprehensive regional energy strategy, protect intellectual property and fight illicit trade, support small and medium enterprises, and address key health and labor mobility issues.
For information, see:
https://www.abaconline.org/v4/download.php?ContentID=4481

Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Related Natural Disasters in East Asia
Date: May 13–14, 2008
Location: Makati, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:World Bank; International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDR); CityNet
Over 50 participants from 15 cities across the region attended the workshop, examining issues such as the links between disaster risk reduction and climate change, sharing of experiences from cities in Asia, and climate change adaptation from an urban perspective. They also provided comments that were incorporated into the final version of the World Bank's upcoming publication, A Primer on Climate Change Impacts and Disaster Risk Management in Urban Areas of East Asia. Break-out groups provided feedback on five themes-the overall value added of the primer, its usability, the applicability of the case studies, the usefulness of the so-called "hot spot" analysis, and the links between climate change and disaster risk management emphasized in the primer.
For information, see:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:21851697~menuPK:34482~pagePK:2524753~piPK:51421526~theSitePK:4607,00.html

Regional Seminar on Enhancing Social Services Policies to Strengthen Family Well-being in Asia and the Pacific
Date: May 12–13, 2008
Location: Macao, China
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Under the theme of strengthening families in the Asia Pacific region through effective social services measures, the regional seminar reviewed the changing situation of families in the region in the context of globalization, urbanization, and other socio-economic transformations. It assessed the provision of social services in the region and put forward practical recommendations to improve social protection and the effective delivery of social services, in particular to families that are traditionally excluded, marginalized, or in emergency situations. The major outcome of the seminar was a regional policy framework that was designed to provide governments and non-state actors in the region with a practical tool for reviewing existing programs and devise innovative policy approaches to enhance the well-being of families. The seminar brought together approximately 100 government, NGO, and academic participants from 20 countries in the region.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2008/may/g30.asp

5th Meeting of the Regional Thematic Working Group on Poverty Reduction on Hunger (RTWGPH)
Date: May 12–13, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The fifth meeting of the working group included a briefing on the Hunger Campaign, a collaborative initiative by the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In addition, the launch of a year-long campaign on hunger was announced, which was scheduled to commence with the launch of the RTWGPH electronic bulletin "Combating Hunger: A Seven Point Agenda." Other agenda items included an inter-agency session on brainstorming for the 2008 Commemoration of the International Day on the Eradication of Poverty and a discussion on soaring food prices. It was also proposed that the working group meet more frequently than once every six months. Participants included representatives from UN agencies, the FAO, UNESCAP, the UN Millennium Campaign, and the EU.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/pdd/calendar/pov-hunger/Minutes_6pov-hunger_sept08.pdf

Workshop on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights: "Supporting the Establishment of Regional Human Rights Mechanism in ASEAN"
Date: May 15–17, 2008
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Organizers/Sponsors: ASEAN and Government of Indonesia
Participants at the workshop discussed suggestions for the possible directions ASEAN can take in establishing an ASEAN human rights body. The national human rights institutions of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand presented a draft Terms of Reference for the ASEAN human rights body, which was presented to representatives of government agencies and civil society organizations for feedback.
For information, see: http://www.aseanhrmech.org/downloads/Human_Rights_Herald_May2008_Issue.pdf

Women's Forum Asia
Date: May 15–17, 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Organizers/Supporters:Women's Forum for the Economy and Society
Building on the success of three previous forums held in France, the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society held the inaugural Women's Forum Asia in Shanghai. Over 700 guests and participants attended, with approximately 90 high level speakers from all around the world. The forum focused on economic development and on devising innovative strategies based on the theme of "Growth and Sustainability: How Women are Making a Difference." Session topics included the significance of China and India's emergence; women and the economic development process; new challenges in education, climate change, and sustainable development; and women and micro-financing.
For information, see:
http://womenforum.planet-service.fr/index.php?/default/Events/Women-s-Forum-Asia/2008

2nd Greater Mekong Subregion Development Dialogue on Climate Change (Public-Private Partnerships)
Date: May 21, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The GMS, which comprises Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, held its second development dialogue on climate change in Bangkok. Hosted by the ADB, the theme of this dialogue was "Climate Makers or Climate Takers?: Understanding and Responding to the Challenges of Climate Change," with three sub-themes of (1) climate change, global warming, and the GMS; (2) physical consequences of climate change: safeguarding communities, commodities, and assets in the GMS; (3) impact on food security, energy security, and tourism in the GMS. In keeping with the spirit of the GMS founding in 1992, when the six countries entered into a program of subregional economic cooperation with assistance by the ADB, the dialogue was characterized by cross-sectional discussion and debate, with the composition of country participants including representatives from GMS governments, academia, the private sector, civil society organizations, and the media.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/Mekong/2008.asp

Seminar on Southeast Asian Trade Security and Sea Routes
Date: May 21, 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Organizers/Supporters:Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS); Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University
Under the initative to strengthen cooperation in nontraditional security between China and Southeast Asia initiated by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the November 2007 China-ASEAN Summit, this small-scale seminar on the prospects for regional maritime cooperative security was launched to intensify studies between the two regions and to promote mutual understanding and trust through academic dialogue. It focused on the maritime security of East Asia and Southeast Asia in a changing landscape, new developments in security and cooperation in the South China Sea, and the security of regional sea lanes.
For information, see:
http://english.sass.org.cn/newsevents/?newstype=0053006A007C0078004A007B006A007300790078&newsid=003C00380035

Financial Market and Ageing in APEC
Date: May 22–23, 2008
Location: Samsung, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
The Korean Ministry of Finance and Economy and KIEP hosted this seminar with experts and economists from APEC economies to discuss aging issues. It is expected, in South Korea and in other advanced countries in the region, that an aging population will decrease the national labor workforce and deepen societal aging issues with long-term economic effects. This high-level seminar was intended to finalize discussions on the effect of aging populations on financial markets and submit a final report the APEC finance ministers' meeting in November 2008. Representatives from the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as various APEC economies' core group participants and experts joined the seminar.
For information, see:
http://www.kiep.go.kr/eng/seminar_view.asp?num=181282&nowPage=1

The Future of Asia 2008-14th Nikkei International Conference
Date: May 22–23, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Nihon Keizai Shimbun
"The Future of Asia" is an annual forum where government leaders and top business executives from throughout the Asia Pacific region present their latest ideas for generating positive and lasting change in the region. The theme of the 2008 conference was "Asia's Role: In Pursuit of Global Coexistence." The participants declared collective responsibility not just for East Asia but also for Asia throughout the world, as East Asian nations are becoming more economically interdependent, and movement toward integration is accelerating. Panels focused on the subprime loan crisis and its effects in Asia, new partnerships in an era of surging oil prices, coping with environmental problems at the regional and global levels, and the political situation in East Asia.
For information, see:
http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/FR/NIKKEI/inasia/future/2008/
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/future/index.html

7th Meeting of the CSCAP Study Group on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Asia Pacific
Date: May 25–26, 2008
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
The meeting focused on recent developments in the UN and global nonproliferation regimes, with specific attention placed on safeguards and regional implementation of these regimes. It examined regional strategies for combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in support of efforts to further develop the Handbook and Action Plan to Counter Proliferation in the Asia Pacific. Forty participants from 17 member committees attended, as well as several observers and 17 members of the Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies Young Leaders program.
For information, see:
http://csis.org/event/cscap-wmd-study-group-meeting

Workshop on Changing Interactions between China and Southeast Asia at the Turn of the 21st Century
Date: May 25–27, 2008
Location: Xiamen, China
Organizers/Supporters:Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS)
The workshop brought together 25 experts from China and Southeast Asia to discuss political dynamics inside Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, at a time of growing Chinese engagement with the region.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/73/2/-/-/veranstaltung_id-30757/

ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST+3): New Energy Forum for Sustainable Environment
Date: May 25–27, 2008
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and Kyoto University
More than 30 representatives from ASEAN+3 member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat, along with more than 50 researchers, gathered to explore possibilities for joint research and development projects based on the ASEAN COST+3 scheme. The forum included a pre-symposium focusing on new energy technologies as well as a closed meeting on human capacity building and collaboration among ASEAN member countries toward new energy initiatives. On the final day, an open symposium was convened with the theme, "Toward a Sustainable Low Carbon Society."
For information, see:
http://www.aseansec.org/5-2008.htm

2nd PECC Seminar on Water Management in Islands, Coastal, and Isolated Areas
Date: May 26–29, 2008
Location: Noum�a, New Caldonia
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC)
Initiated by French Pacific Territories' branch of PECC, and in cooperation with the World Water Forum, the meeting was organized to pursue the work initiated in Bora Bora to prepare for the November 2008 Honolulu seminar, when guidelines for a better water governance would be drawn up for endorsement by the World Water Forum. The objectives of these meetings were to share information about the best management of clean water; to highlight and share information on strategies to cope with water shortages; to develop a new governance in the use of water by developing a body of common practices to guarantee the availability of the resource and its quality both for individual and industry use; and to help avoid potential conflict that could arise within local populations or between economies. Several international and regional organizations have cooperated on this international project.
For information, see:
http://www.pecc.org/water/papers/2008-Noumea-Conclusion-Paper.pdf

Asia NGO Consultative Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction
Date: March 27–28, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
A total of 33 participants attended this two-day consultative meeting, where climate change clearly emerged as the group's major concern among a number of issues that included urbanization and local governance. The group decided against forming an additional disaster risk reduction network at this stage, but instead agreed that the steering committee would be expanded to include representatives from Duryog Nivaran-a South Asia regional network. The expanded steering committee will lead in taking the recommendations of the meeting forward. In particular, the new and expanded steering committee will work toward establishing a regional advisory committee to collaborate with the networks and organizations participating in this two-day consultative meeting. In addition, the steering committee will write the terms of reference for the emerging regional coordination mechanism and conduct a regional mapping of NGOs.
For information, see:
http://www.unisdr.org/asiapacific/events/v.php?id=5549

18th Asian Corporate Conference
Date: May 28–30, 2008
Location: Tianjin, China
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Society; co-sponsored by Tianjin Municipal People's Government and Wall Street Journal Asia
Under the theme, "A New Era for Global Business: Sustainable Growth for China and the World," the conference brought together top business figures and government leaders from around the world to explore Asia's future in the context of China's growing global influence. Sessions included discussion on the environment, capital markets, the internationalization of corporations, and the future of culture in the age of commerce. Other highlights included a discussion on the sustainability of cities and a speech by film actor Jet Li on his charity organization and its relief efforts related to the China earthquake.
For information, see:
http://www.asiasociety.org/conference08/

7th IISS Asia Security Conference (Shangri-La Dialogue)
Date: May 30–June 1, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
The Shangri-La Dialogue is an annual event on defense and security diplomacy for the region. Since its inaugural meeting in 2002, the dialogue has become a recognized part of the architecture of Asian defense diplomacy. The 2008 meeting had the participation from 27 countries-the largest yet-and an expanded agenda. Issues addressed at the plenary sessions included challenges to stability in the Asia-Pacific; formulating defense policy in uncertain times; securing energy in the Asia-Pacific; restoring peace in complex emergencies; and modes of security cooperation, including confidence-building, partnerships, and alliances. Breakout groups explored various themes important to the Asia-Pacific, including climate change, counter-terrorism, strategies for resolving proliferation challenges, maritime disputes, and the possibility of an arms race in the region.
For information, see:
http://www.iiss.org/conferences/the-shangri-la-dialogue

June

29th CSCAP Steering Committee Meeting
Date: June 1–2, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
CSCAP is administratively guided by a steering committee made up of representatives from each member country. Two elected representatives, one from an ASEAN country, the other from a non-ASEAN member, chair the steering committee, which meets twice annually.
For information, see:
http://www.cscap.org/index.php?mact=Calendar,cntnt01,default,0&cntnt01event_id=6&cntnt01display=event&cntnt01lang=en_US&cntnt01detailpage=21&cntnt01return_id=21&cntnt01returnid=21

Asia's Strategic Challenges: In Search of a Common Agenda
Date: June 2–4, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS); Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)
A unique group of 60 experts and opinion leaders, many with senior-level government experience and equally divided between Japanese and non-Japanese participants from 12 countries in total, held a discussion on "Asian Strategic Challenges: In Search of a Common Agenda." Discussions included nontraditional security challenges, especially climate change and energy security, which have emerged as key strategic concerns in recent years. Other topics also covered traditional security challenges, such as protecting sea lines of communication, nuclear proliferation, regional arms races, regional security architecture, and the potential for armed conflict in Asia in an era of shifting power balances. An overarching theme throughout the conference was that of regional cooperation, and how these challenges, particularly the more transnational issues of climate change and energy security, require greater cooperation among Asian states. Participants also made a series of recommendations to the leaders of the 2008 G8 Summit.
For information, see:
http://www.iiss.org/conferences/asias-strategic-challenges-in-search-of-a-common-agenda/

22nd Asia Pacific Roundtable (APR)
Date: June 2–5, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS); Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)
The APR series was launched in 1987 to promote trust and confidence in the Asia Pacific region. As a Track 2 forum, the APR brings together think tanks, academics, media representatives, and senior government officials acting in their personal capacity to engage in candid dialogue on the major security challenges confronting the region. 2008 plenary sessions focused on changes in US policy after the elections, implications of the 17th national congress of the Communist Party of China, the relationship between ASEAN and Myanmar, the strategic impact of a rising India, Japan's relevance in the region, issues related to a re-emerging Russia, and the ASEAN Regional Forum. Participants also discussed militant and terrorist threats in the Asia Pacific and security and stability in the South Pacific, as well as economic issues such as the potential for a global recession and its impact on regional economic security.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/73/1/veranstaltung_id-29452/index.html

Asia Clean Energy Forum 2008: Investing in Solutions that Address Climate Change and Energy Security
Date: June 2–6, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); co-sponsored by the Governments of Australia, Japan, Norway and Spain; the Asia Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate; the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); GTZ through the Cities Development Initiative for Asia.
More than 500 policymakers, private sector firms, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) across Asia gathered to promote increased use of clean energy in the Asia Pacific region through donor cooperation and the promotion of successful clean energy policies and finance solutions that respond to the region's climate challenge. The forum discussed best practices on enabling policies, market incentives, and proven financing models that foster increased investment in energy efficiency, cleaner fossil energy. and renewable energy projects. Participants explored ways to catalyze public-private partnerships between energy producers, equipment suppliers, consumers, and government agencies that will lead to increased deployment of clean energy technologies and systems. They also discussed opportunities for improved cooperation among donors and other stakeholders involved in financing clean energy programs in the region, identified financing challenges for project developers, and initiated steps to provide follow-on assistance.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/events/2008/ACEF/

8th NEAT Country Coordinators Meeting
Date: June 7, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Network of East Asian Think-Tanks (NEAT)
Over the course of a one-day meeting in Bangkok, the country coordinators of the NEAT, who comprise the network's highest decision-making body, put together policy recommendations to be submitted by NEAT to the next ASEAN+3 heads of state summit. A Track 2 organization of think tanks that was established in 2003 by an ASEAN+3 ministerial meeting to integrate research resources in East Asia, NEAT promotes academic exchanges and provides intellectual support for East Asian cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.neat.org.cn/english/hzdten/contentshow.php?content_id=106

Japan-East Asia Dialogue: Cooperation in Environment and Energy
Date: June 9–10, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Global Forum of Japan; Council on East Asian Community; East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore; in cooperation with the International Academic Society for Asian Community; supported by the Tokyo Club
Over 125 experts, including participants from academic, research, and international institutions, gathered to discuss cooperation in environment and energy issues among Japan and its regional neighbors. The first session focused on the current situation and challenges of East Asia's environmental and energy problems. It was followed by a second session on the future prospects for East Asian environmental and energy cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.gfj.jp/eng/dialogue/28/cp.pdf

13th Poverty and Environment Partnership (PEP) Meeting
Date: June 9–11, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The 13th meeting aimed to highlight, among other topics, experience from the Asia Pacific region with various types of interventions meant to simultaneously reduce poverty and improve environmental management. Participants heard from practitioners on innovative programs that link environmental management to poverty reduction, ranging from coastal resources management to urban air quality. Special attention was given to climate change issues, including new financing mechanisms and how they relate to PEP. The meeting provided the participants with lessons from innovative interventions to reduce poverty and improve the environment and the latest developments regarding climate change interventions and environmental financing. Approximately 80 participants attended the meeting, including representatives from PEP members, government officials and policymakers, and other stakeholders such as civil society, researchers, and development professionals.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/documents/events/2008/13th-PEP-Meeting/default.asp

Managing SE Asia Porous Borders II in the Maritime Domain Conference
Date: June 9–11, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Pacific Center on Security Studies; Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
With widespread participation from several Southeast Asian countries, participants produced a consensus briefing outlining the primary maritime security threats in the region and recommended courses of action for enhanced multinational and regional security cooperation. The conference sought to explore Southeast Asia countries' perspectives on maritime border-control challenges and identify means of leveraging effective border control in the maritime domain to deter various forms of trafficking and other crimes detrimental to governance and human security within the region.
For information, see:
http://www.apcss.org/core/Conference/ManagingBordersCombinedReport.doc

Korea and Southeast Asia: Expanding Relations and New Challenges
Date: June 12, 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Foundation; supported by Pacific Century Institute, Korea Foundation, Friends of the Asia Foundation in Korea
This international conference focused on Korea-Southeast Asia relations, including Southeast Asian studies in Korea, and interactions between Korean and regional scholars. The conference, supported by grants from the Pacific Century Institute, the Korea Foundation, and the Friends of The Asia Foundation in Korea, covered issues such as security, commercial ties, development cooperation, migrant workers, international marriage, tourism, and a fresh look at the hallyu ("Korean Wave") phenomenon. Participants concluded that Korea has a major leadership role to play in promoting peace and prosperity in the region; however, this can only be achieved by building relationships based on mutual understanding and respect. The papers were to be published later in the year in an edited volume.
For information, see:
http://www.asiafoundation.org/news/?m=200806

7th Workshop on Human Rights Mechanism for ASEAN
Date: June 12–13, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA)
Convening just prior to the ASEAN ministers' meeting, the workshop was an opportunity for civil society and government to discuss and contribute to the process of developing a ASEAN human rights body. The workshop analyzed and reviewed regional efforts in ASEAN to establish such a mechanism and to assess the issue of human rights in relation to women and children and migrant workers. The workshop considered the future prospects of human rights in ASEAN and how civil society and the region's governments can work toward an ASEAN human rights mechanism. Government representatives, leading civil society representatives from around the region, and many leading experts from ASEAN think tanks and academic institutions participated in this two-day workshop.
For information, see:
http://www.siiaonline.org/?q=events/7th-workshop-human-rights-mechanism-asean

ASEM Conference - Asia, Europe and the Future of Regional Economic Integration
Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Jeju Island, Korea
Organizers/Supporters:ASEM
Preceding the eighth ASEM finance ministers' meeting, the conference discussed financial aspects pertinent to biregional cooperation, as well as the future of regional economic integration. Five sessions were organized on topics such as using ASEM as a bridge for cooperation and integration and the relevance of the European experience in deepening Asian integration. Participants discussed regional financial integration, policy implications of growing EU-Asia interdependence, and the challenges and opportunities of a EU-Asia strategic partnership. Participants included government senior officials as well as private sector leaders.
For information, see:
http://www.aseminfoboard.org/content/documents/ASEM-Future-Economic-Integration_Programme.pdf

World Economic Forum on East Asia 2008: Responding to New Uncertainties
Date: June 15–16, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:World Economic Forum
Climate change and water shortage emerged as the top issues with the greatest impact on Asia, according to a survey of business leaders by the World Economic Forum. The survey showed that an overwhelming 81 percent of the 55 business leaders voted for addressing growing global concern over environmental challenges such as climate change and water as the top choice of issues with potential impact on Asia. Other major concerns included preventing political and economic instability linked to rising food and energy prices, and managing the social, environmental, and infrastructural implications of rapid urbanization. The survey, released at the close of the 17th World Economic Forum on East Asia, wrapped up a two-day meeting dominated by discussions on food, fuel, and finance.
For information, see:
http://www.weforum.org/en/events/ArchivedEvents/WorldEconomicForumonEastAsia2008/index.htm

Regional Meeting on the Development of Intermodal Interfaces
Date: June 16–17, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Experts and country representatives from throughout Southeast Asia in the transportation and tourism sectors gathered to discuss the development of intermodal interfaces in Southeast Asia. Participants discussed the importance of developing transportation systems along the Asian Highway and Trans-Asian Railway networks and heard from experts in Europe, the United States, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Northeast Asia on their experiences with intermodal interfaces. They also discussed the economic benefits of freight intermodal facilities and and policy initiatives to promote the development of such facilities.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/common/TIS/TAR/text/Intermodal_Bkk_Programme_16Jun08.pdf

Pacific Health Summit 2008: The Global Nutrition Challenge-Getting a Healthy Start
Date: June 16–18, 2008
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Organizers/Supporters:National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR); Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Wellcome Trust
The mission of the annual summit is to connect science and policy for a healthier world through effective utilization of scientific advances combined with appropriate policy for the prevention, early detection, and early treatment of disease. The 2008 summit theme was "The Global Nutrition Challenge: Getting a Healthy Start." Participants tackled the complex challenge of too little of the right nutrition for vulnerable populations, and the rapidly emerging health threat of too much of the wrong kind of nutrition in both developed and developing societies. Top decision makers from the science, policy, industry, medicine, and public health fields met to discuss how emerging science and technology can be connected to global health policy in order to realize the dream of a healthier future.
For information, see:
http://pacifichealthsummit.org/downloads/2008%20Summit/2008SummitChallenge.pdf

International Process on Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Workshop on Enhancing Capacity Building for the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Focusing Mainly on the Experiences in Southeast Asia
Date: June 17–18, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Japan Institute of International Affairs
Launched in 2007, the international process included a series of workshops examining the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Strategy. The purpose of the workshops was to provide an opportunity for off-the-record discussion among a broad array of countries, representatives from the UN and other intergovernmental bodies, and civil society. The discussions focused on assessing the overall UN contributions to the fight against terrorism over the past seven years and identifying ways to make its institutions more relevant to national and regional counter-terrorism efforts. At this final workshop, participants put forward a wide range of concrete proposals aimed at furthering the implementation of UN strategy to be built upon during the September 2008 General Assembly.
For information, see:
http://www.globalct.org/images/content/pdf/other/process_final_document.pdf

New Power Dynamics in Southeast Asia: Issues for US Policy
Date: June 18, 2009
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Forum CSIS
This project examined the impact of changing power relations in the Asia Pacific region on Southeast Asian politics, security, and economics, and the implication of these trends for US policy. It culminated with recommendations for the new US administration following the 2008 elections. The June 2008 Honolulu meeting would serve as the wrap-up session for the project and included participants from throughout East Asia.
For information, see:
http://csis.org/event/new-power-dynamics-southeast-asia-issues-us-policy

Regional Policy Dialogue on "Financing for Development"
Date: June 18–19, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
EExperts from the Asia Pacific region gathered for presentations on topics related to development finance. The participants discussed international trade as a driver of growth and development, international financial and technical cooperation for development, and a regional action plan for financing for development. On this final topic, the UNESCAP Secretariat presented some possible actions at the regional and national level, including the development of a regional bond market and a mechanism for financing for development, as well as a regional financing for development tax, "aid for trade" measures, steps to monitor private borrowings, and a surveillance mechanism.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/pdd/calendar/FFD2008/Pgrm.pdf

Sino-US-Japan-ROK Seminar on East Asian Security: Challenge, Trend and Prospect
Date: June 19, 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Organizers/Supporters:Shanghai Municipal Foreign Culture Exchange Association; Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS)
About 20 specialists and scholars from institutions such as Vanderbilt University, Japan's Defense Research Institute, the North-South Korea Institute of Korea University, the China Institute of International Studies, China Academy of Social Sciences, Fudan University, and Tongji University attended the meeting, which focused on regional security and stability in East Asia. Issues discussed included the current status and future trends of the denuclearization process on the Korean peninsula, relations across the Taiwan Strait and US-Taiwan cooperation, the US-Japan security relationship after the inauguration of a new president in the United States in 2009, and the China-US-Japan comprehensive dialogue mechanism and East Asian multilateral security cooperation.
For information, see:
http://english.sass.org.cn/International/?newsid=003D0036003E&newstype=004E00730079006A0077007300660079006E0074007300660071

International Workshop on Buddhism and the Crises of Nation-States in Asia
Date: June 19–20, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Research Institute and Religion Research Cluster; Faculty of Arts and Social Science; National University of Singapore
The workshop brought together top scholars working on Buddhism in Asia to examine the "crises of nation-states" in Asia's Buddhist countries. It explored complex situations and issues pertinent to the changing status and role of Buddhism in the far-from-complete processes of nation-state building and modernization in major Buddhist countries in the region. It also compared the paths, patterns, and processes that Buddhism has undertaken in its role as a traditional source of moral and political authority in various states. A total of 16 papers and invited speakers addressed issues concerning themes such as Buddhism and the politics of nation building, Buddhist fundamentalism and nationalism, militant and socially-engaged monks and nuns, and the politics of Buddhist piety and fragmentation.
For information, see:
http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventid=777

APEC Study Centers Consortium Meeting
Date: June 19–21, 2008
Location: Piura, Peru
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The June 2008 APEC Studies Centers Consortium Meeting analyzed the risks facing APEC and identified drivers critical to maintaining growth and development in Asia-Pacific economies. In addition to discussions about trade liberalization, facilitation, and structural reform, participants of the annual meeting also looked at corporate social responsibility, regional institutional architecture, and education and innovation in APEC economies. The meeting, which was hosted by the Peruvian Network for Asia-Pacific Studies, was exhorted by the network's head to consider the further cooperation between Peru and the Asia-Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.apec.org/apec/enewsletter/may_vol16/upcomingevents.html#0009
http://www.upch.edu.pe/upchvi/redap/asac2008/program.htm
http://www.apec2008.org.pe/medianews.aspx-id=117.htm

ARTNeT Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Capacity Building Workshop on Regional Integration and Competitiveness: The European Experience
Date: June 24–26, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
This workshop sought to provide GMS researchers with a more detailed understanding of how the European Union, as the most advanced example of regional integration, has tackled the economic and social discrepancies among its members to ensure a more harmonized and coherent development of the region. Participants invited to the workshop included researchers from the institutions involved in the ARTNeT GMS studies as well as government officials in charge of trade and planning.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/news/artnet_newsv4i1.pdf

International Workshop on Autonomy and Armed Separatism in South and Southeast Asia
Date: June 26–27, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Research Institute; Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore; supported by The Asia Foundation and the Centre on Asia and Globalisation
The international workshop promoted a multidisciplinary approach toward understanding national identity problems in seven South and Southeast Asian countries-Indonesia, Burma, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, India, and East Timor. It explored the political, economic, legal, security, and other compromises that have been offered by national governments to negotiate shared-rule outcomes with their separatist movements through the devolution of central state authority and resources. By examining specific case studies in South and Southeast Asia, the workshop sought to identify the conditions under which autonomy has, or could, potentially serve as an effective mechanism for conflict resolution, and what conditions have impeded its implementation or resulted in its failure.
For information, see:
http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventid=757

Asia-Pacific Water Forum Regional Consultation Meetings on Climate Change Adaptation and Water-Related Disaster Management
Date: June 26–27, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF)
In line with an overall theme on disaster management, regional consultation meetings for the Asia-Pacific Water Forum were held on "Climate Change Adaptation and Water-related Disaster Management" at the inaugural Singapore International Water Week. These meetings supported the work of the newly established water knowledge hubs, which are centers for knowledge exchange and information dissemination established jointly by the Asian Development Bank, the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, and the Singapore Public Utilities Board as part of an ongoing partnership. The National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia was designated as the Knowledge Hub for Water and Climate Change Adaptation in Southeast Asia, while the International Center for Water Hazard and Risk Management will serve as the Knowledge Hub for Disaster Risk Reduction and Flood Management. Member organizations of the APWF, donor agencies, and the media attended the event.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/APWF-Consultation-Meeting/default.asp

Energy Future in East Asia
Date: June 29, 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:Korea Energy Economics Institute; Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy
Energy policy specialists from East Asia Summit member countries shared their perspectives on effective cooperation measures to strengthen regional energy security and address climate change in the region at the international seminar on "Energy Future: Tuning Challenge into Opportunity in East Asia." Participants discussed the global and regional energy outlook with a focus on potential areas for energy-saving, high oil prices and prospects for the world oil market from the standpoint of consumers and producers, and climate change cooperation between the developed and developing countries.
For information, see:
http://www.keei.re.kr/main.nsf/index_en.html?open&p=%2Fweb_keei%2Fen_news.nsf%2F0%2F24673CB74AE0B2404925747D001EC7EC&s=%3FOpenDocument

Workshop on Managing China-Japan-US Relations and Strengthening Trilateral Cooperation
Date: June 29–30, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE)
The June 29-30, 2008, workshop, which took place in Beijing, brought together a multi-country team of leading experts from the three countries to undertake a systematic, in-depth analysis of the dynamics of the trilateral relationship. One senior participant and three emerging intellectual leaders were selected from each country and the team members analyzed a wide range of topics-including the emergence of regional community, financial cooperation, and tensions in the Taiwan Straits-in the context of the trilateral relationship. In 2007, JCIE had launched this annual study and dialogue project, aimed at developing a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of the China-Japan-US trilateral relationship, identifying the issues central to managing stable and cooperative relations, and examining ways of promoting more meaningful cooperation on key challenges. The workshop was designed to encourage policymakers in all three countries to improve their knowledge of this key relationship and a pursue a greater commitment to trilateral cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.jcie.or.jp/thinknet/chinajapanus/
http://www.jcie.or.jp/thinknet/chinajapanus/beijingagenda.html

July

14th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on the Environment
Date: July 1–2, 2008
Location: Luang Prabang, Laos
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The GMS Working Group on the Environment seeks to respond to the urgent challenges of the current food crisis and climate change in the region by integrating climate change in the development planning process. Discussions at the 14th meeting focused on the issue of food security for the subregion and the need for ensuring national coordination between the relevant sectors and strengthening subregional coordination among countries to maximize resource use efficiencies and environmental gains. Participants included senior government representatives from the six GMS countries, representatives from NGOs, academic institutions, and researchers.
For information, see:
http://www.gms-eoc.org/WGE/Meeting/14-AM-WGE.aspx
http://www.gms-eoc.org/WGE/Meeting/docs/14-AM-WGE/WGE-AM14Press_Release-Eng.pdf
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Speeches/2008/sp2008032.asp

Energy Resources Cooperation and Corporate Strategy in Northeast and Central Asia
Date: July 3, 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy(MKE), Center for Energy Research, International Studies, Korea Energy Economics Institute; Institute for Business Research and Education, Korea University
This jointly held symposium focused on energy issues, including energy resources and economic cooperation in the Northeast and Central Asian regions, case studies and lessons from energy cooperation projects initiated by Korean companies, and strategies for promoting strategic partnership between the two regions. Participants included academics, scientists, and energy ministry officials from Russia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and South Korea.
For information, see:
http://www.keei.re.kr/main.nsf/index_en.html?open&p=%2Fweb_keei%2Fen_publish.nsf%2F0%2Fe24d95a706e40c4c4925754c003e5fc2&s=%3FOpenDocument%26Click%3D

2nd Meeting of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific
Date: July 7–8, 2008
Location: Apia, Samoa
Organizers/Supporters:United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS; Commission on AIDS in the Pacific
The agenda of the second meeting of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific included community consultations, analysis of all data, including reviews and background documents prepared, and the content and dissemination plan for a report. The commission had been set up by UNAIDS in 2007 with the aim of obtaining appropriate policy recommendations directed toward the governments in the areas of prevention, care, and impact mitigation. Its mandate is to focus on analyzing the progress of the epidemic in the region, and its impact at various levels, particularly at the individual and family level. It seeks to develop a road map based on best practices in information gathering and dissemination; governance and HIV; funding arrangements and transparency; civil society and government involvement in scaling up the response to prevention, treatment, care, and support; and impact mitigation.
For information, see:
http://www.aidscommissionpacific.com/events_calendar.html

2008 Senior Policy Forum
Date: July 7–8, 2008
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Organizers/Supporters:East-West Center
A keystone event for the East-West Center, the forum brought together senior foreign policy officials, private sector leaders, and analysts from countries around the region for non-official, frank, and non-attribution discussions of security issues in the Asia Pacific region. The seminar offered front-line experts a chance to exchange views and formulate policy on core issues facing the Asia Pacific region today. At the top of the agenda of this year's gathering was the current turmoil in the US and international economies, its impact on the region, and how these issues will impact the next US administration. Experts also discussed both traditional and non-traditional security concerns as well as trade issues.
For information, see:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/pdfs/seniorpolicyseminar2008_1.pdf

4th Meeting of the CSCAP Study Group on Asia Pacific Cooperation for Energy Security
Date: July 8–9, 2008
Location: Brunei
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
The CSCAP study group on Asia-Pacific Cooperation for Energy Security held its fourth and final meeting over two days in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, and discussed the prospects for cooperation in ensuring the security, stability, and sustainability of energy supplies. The study group considered how increasing demand for oil in South Asia and East Asia is changing the regional economics of energy supply and demand, how it is renewing the search for alternative sources and more efficient uses of energy, and how Asia Pacific political alignments and regional security strategies are shifting as a result. The two year study group had been established during the 26th CSCAP Steering Committee Meeting in December 2006 and was co-chaired by CSCAP Singapore and CSCAP India.
For information, see:
http://www.cscap.org/index.php?page=energy-security

2nd APEC Public-Private Sector Forum on Bond Market Development
Date: July 9, 2008
Location: Cusco, Peru
Organizers/Supporters:Advisory Group on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Financial System Capacity Building; APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC); Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru; Procapitales
Participants from APEC economies, including members of the senior finance officials' meeting and the advisory group; experts from multilateral development and international financial institutions; and representatives from investment banks, institutional investors, fund managers, rating agencies, and other relevant private sector organizations, gathered to discuss the bond markets of Chile, Mexico, and Peru. Beyond sessions focusing on the three main countries' bond markets, the meeting included discussions on the public and private sector perspectives on the development of bond markets in the Asia Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.apec.org/etc/medialib/apec_media_library/downloads/events/2008.Par.0024.File.tmp/08_fmp_abac_BondMktSem_Agenda.pdf

North Pacific International Symposium: The Future for East Asia and the Role of China
Date: July 12, 2008
Location: Sapporo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:North Pacific Region Advanced Research Center; Keio Institute of East Asia Studies
The symposium focused on the prospects for a regional order in East Asia based on keynote reports by scholars representing China, and through the discussion among scholars from Japan, South Korea, and the United States. Participants discussed how the rapid expansion of trade and investment in East Asia has strengthened mutual economic interdependence and has led to an acceleration of efforts to create the proposed East Asian Community.
For information, see:
http://www.norpac.or.jp/index_Eng/index_Eng.html

Democracy, Crisis Management and New Regionalism in Southeast Asia
Date: July 15, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
The forum brought together regional experts to address various pressing concerns in Southeast Asia. Participants discussed issues affecting political stability in the region and the nontraditional security impacts of natural disasters. They also examined regional integration processes from the bottom-up perspective involving civil society, and discussed the ratification process of the ASEAN Charter as a way to create a more rules-based and integrated ASEAN and to more effectively address the issues of human and nontraditional security in Southeast Asia.
For information, see:
http://www.iseas.edu.sg/iframes/15july08a.pdf

Asian Power Forum 2008: What Is Asia's Power Energy Industries Next Step?
Date: July 15–16, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute
The forum brought together power and energy sector leaders and policy makers from the region to discuss the issues facing the Asian power industry as well as the decisions made at the UN Climate Change Conference 2007 on the actions necessary to create a secure climate future. Participants discussed the evolution of this rapidly changing sector and offered forward-looking insights into the key energy issues for 2008 and beyond.
For information, see:
http://www.asli.com.my/documents/Asia%20Power%20230608.pdf

Expert Roundtable Discussion on the Road to Ratification and Implementation of the ASEAN Charter: Its Strengths and Weaknesses
Date: July 17, 2008
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN Studies Centre; Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore; The Habibie Center, Indonesia
The discussion was organized to provide a platform for ASEAN representatives, scholars, the media, members of the Indonesian Parliament, Indonesian officials, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Foundation, and other opinion makers to voice their views on the strengths and weaknesses of the ASEAN charter. In particular, some felt that the charter had been watered down almost to the point of irrelevance, and that while the charter resolves to create an ASEAN human rights body, it has no provisions for enforcing compliance with human rights standards. Recommendations were gathered for the charter's future implementation.
For information, see:
http://www.iseas.edu.sg/asc/ascrs2.pdf

Asian Noodle Bowl Conference
Date: July 17–18, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB) Institute
Experts and policymakers gathered to present latest the country and firm-level information on East Asian free trade areas (FTAs), to discuss an appropriate design for an East Asian FTA, to identify ideas for future work on East Asian FTAs, and to use the results as inputs to a capacity building and training program. The first round of surveys were conducted in four East Asian countries-Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. The conference consisted of two parts: part one was a half-day conference on the impact of FTAs on business activity and assessment of current FTAs in East Asia, and part two was a one-and-a-half day technical workshop to discuss in greater detail country-level FTA strategies, issues related to the formation of an East Asian FTA, and firm-level evidence on FTA impacts on business activity.
For information, see:
http://www.adbi.org/event/2530.asian.noodlebowl.conference/

14th Regional Disaster Managers Meeting
Date: July 21–22, 2008
Location: Nadi, Fiji
Organizers/Supporters:The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)
Regional disaster managers and representatives from ministries of finance and planning, ministries for disaster management, and various regional and international donors and organizations gathered to address the needs and challenges in relation to mainstreaming disaster risk reduction and disaster management within national and local planning and budgetary systems in support of sustainable national development. The meeting was designed to allow for consultation between the heads of the national disaster management offices on disaster risk management-related issues in the Pacific.
For information, see:
http://www.sopac.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=125

Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT) Research Team Meeting on RTAs and Production Networks Linkages
Date: July 21–22, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
ARTNet is an open regional network composed of leading trade research institutions from developing countries across the UNESCAP region. The ARTNeT research team met to discuss and report on the progress of their study, focusing on regional trade agreements and production network linkages in the region. The participants discussed the study's outline, structure, and methodology, and concluded with experiences from related research and recommendations for the future.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/mtg/rta.asp

Nuclear Stability in Asia
Date: July 21–24, 2008
Location: West Sussex, UK
Organizers/Supporters:Wilton Park Conferences
With six of the world's acknowledged nuclear-armed states (China, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States) involved in the Asian region, government representatives and experts from around the world met to address the following questions-what are the long-term implications for deterrence and nuclear stability? What would be the effects of missile defenses? Is further nuclear proliferation likely and if so how can it be prevented? What are the prospects for denuclearization, and under what conditions? The conference was broken up into two sessions that focused on strategy and stability issues in the region, including the established deterrence relationships between the United States, Russia, and China; the evolving strategic relationships between Russia and China as well as Pakistan and India, nuclear weapons and the Korean peninsula, and European perspectives on nuclear stability in Asia. Participants also discussed alternative strategic deterrence within the global context.
For information, see:
http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/themes/defence/pastconference.aspx?confref=WP937

3rd Annual Meeting of the Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network
Date: July 22–23, 2008
Location: Nadi, Fiji
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission
Under the theme of "A Call for Action: Strengthening the Partnership Network," participants focused on a set of three objectives-to review the status of current and planned partnership activities in the Pacific, to endorse the partnership as the "Pacific Platform" for disaster risk reduction, and to examine opportunities for improved strategic alliances and engagement at regional and national level within Pacific countries. The meeting comprised of a series of presentations by partners on their current and pipeline activities in the Pacific and the issues they face in addressing these. These were followed by selected presentations by Pacific countries in relation to their disaster risk management experiences and issues in dealing with regional and international organizations. The meeting also examined approaches to strengthen collaboration within the partnership.
For information, see:
http://www.sopac.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=125

Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting on Promoting Sustainable Social Protection Strategies to improve Access to Health Care
Date: July 23–25, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The three day meeting brought together policy makers and representatives from regional and international organizations to discuss regional experiences with social protection strategies and plans to improve access to health care. Topics included how to increase domestic spending on health, the role of external funds, and how to increase the coverage and equity of risk-pooling schemes.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/ESID/hds/projects/UC/files/jul08/HFRMProgramme180708.pdf

Inaugural Pacific Regional Disaster Risk Management Meeting for Pacific CEOs of Finance/Planning and Disaster Management
Date: July 24–25, 2008
Location: Nadi, Fiji
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission; Government of Fiji
Under the theme of "Disaster Risk Management to Protect our Future: an Investment for Sustainable Development in Pacific Island Countries," its purpose was to enhance the involvement and participation of key chief executives in Pacific governments in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation as a cornerstone requirement and imperative for supporting sustainable national development. The specific objectives of the meeting were to create an understanding of the disaster risk management (DRM) support structure in the Pacific, develop greater understanding for the global commitments toward DRM, and highlight the linkages between disasters and development to demonstrate the importance of mainstreaming DRM into planning and budgeting. Participants also discussed the immediate, urgent implementation of the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.
For information, see:
http://www.sopac.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=125

ASEAN Roundtable 2008: ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint
Date: July 28, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN Studies Centre; the Regional Economic Studies Programme of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies; Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
The 2008 ASEAN roundtable on the "ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint" examined the strengths and weaknesses of the association on its road to an ASEAN Economic Community. Roundtable attendees included members of ASEAN governments, the private sector, and academia. Some obstacles discussed included non-tariff barriers to intra-ASEAN trade, involvement of ASEAN business in regional economic integration, national investment regimes, competition policy, infrastructure development, and international production networks. On the other hand, the roundtable did recognize that the association had practically eliminated tariffs on intra-ASEAN trade and laid the foundations for economic integration through measures pertaining to investments, customs, harmonized tariff nomenclatures, product standards, services, and infrastructure. Participants stressed the benefits of regional economic integration with respect to economic growth, lower costs, reduced prices, international standing, and regional cohesion, as well as competitiveness with rising economies such as China and India.
For information, see:
http://www.iseas.edu.sg/asc/ascrs3.pdf

International Workshop: Natural Resources and the Development-Environment Dilemma in the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia
Date: July 28–29, 2008
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); Henry L. Stimson Center
In collaboration with CSIS-Jakarta, an Indonesian think tank, the Henry L. Stimson Center organized an international workshop to discuss issues pertaining to natural resources and the development versus environmental sustainability dilemma from cross-sectoral, cross-regional, and multidisciplinary perspectives. The meeting brought together diverse experts from the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The participants at the meeting agreed that government policies for development should take on a more integrative approach because neither market-driven nor security-oriented approaches to natural resource management are viable in the long term, and because natural resources policies have to be mainstreamed within national government's socioeconomic development plans.
For information, see:
http://www.stimson.org/events.cfm

13th Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
Date: July 28–31, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
The meeting bought together almost 170 representatives from national human rights institutions (NHRIs), regional governments, NGOs, and the UN to discuss a number of key human rights concerns facing the region. The forum included a one-day seminar for representatives of NHRIs and NGOs to discuss effective approaches to engage with the universal periodic review process established by the UN Human Rights Council, as well as discussions by the Advisory Council of Jurists examining a reference on human rights and corporate accountability. It also contained a one-day professional training workshop for senior executive officers of Asia Pacific Forum (APF) member institutions, as well as the annual general meeting of the APF's decision-making body, the forum council. The two-day conference featured country reports from APF member institutions, examples of regional cooperation, and a panel discussion on the meaning and effect of Article 29(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For information, see:
http://www.asiapacificforum.net/about/annual-meetings/13th-malaysia-2008

ARTNet Research Team Meeting: Impact of IT-based Trade Facilitation Measures on Inclusive Development
Date: July 29–30, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
ARTNet is an open regional network composed of leading trade research institutions across the UNESCAP region and is comprised of over 20 member research institutions from developing countries of the region. The ARTNeT research team met to discuss and report on the progress of their ongoing study, focusing specifically during the meeting on issues related to the impact of IT-based trade facilitation measures. The participants discussed the background of the study and reviewed individual contribution outlines and their timelines.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/mtg/tfmeasures.asp

Conference on Return Migration in Asia: Experiences, Ideologies and Politics
Date: July 31–September 1, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Research Institute and National University of Singapore
Despite the burgeoning literature on a wide range of transnational migratory flows in Asia, research on return migration remains scarce. With this background, conference themes that were addressed included the process and experiences of return migrations that complicate the concept of "return," and the social, economic, and political implications of return migrations. Participants included experts from leading academic institutions and international organizations from both sides of the Asia Pacific.
For information, see:
http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventid=721

August

Japan-China-ROK Joint International Research Conference
Date: August 1, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:National Institute for Research Advancement; Korea Institute for International Economic Policy
Policymakers, academics, and representatives of NGOs from China, Japan, and Korea convened to draw up a joint report and set of policy recommendations on the prospects of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the three countries. Revolving around the necessity of increased economic cooperation and the argument that the FTA would be the best way of pooling the three countries' resources, the conference included an examination of each country's policy measures concerning the proposed FTA. The participants expressed optimistic expectations about the FTA's eventual creation, with many taking the stand that concrete steps towards its establishment should be accelerated. However, it was also recognized that there were still many issues to be resolved before it could become a reality, and that it was imperative that the present framework of nongovernmental Japan-China-Korea research on the proposed FTA continue so that momentum would not be lost.
For information, see:
http://www.nira.or.jp/pdf/cjk080801summary.pdf
http://www.nira.or.jp/about/news/entry/n081213_312.html

9th Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference
Date: August 1–2, 2008
Location: Awaji, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Pacific Forum, Awaji Conference Japan
Attended by 250 participants from seven countries, the ninth conference featured presentations and discussions that highlighted the need for future measures combining three different areas-technological, market, and societal solutions-to address water resource issues, which have become increasingly more serious worldwide. The theme for the meeting was "Water Resources in Asia: What lies in the Future?" Participants discussed how the growing population in Asia and accompanying rise in production has affected water consumption patterns and placed stress on the balance of water supply and demand. Additionally, presentations were given by experts from Singapore, China, and the Mekong River basin on specific case studies of water resource conservation efforts.
For information, see:
http://www.hemri21.jp/awaji-conf/english/project/symposium/2008/index.html

3rd APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting of 2008
Date: August 2–6, 2008
Location: Hanzhou, China
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
Created by APEC in 1995 to provide the business perspective on specific areas of cooperation, ABAC comprises up to three representatives from the private sector of each member country. For the third meeting, recognizing that significant economic gains achieved within the region during the past several years have not been equally shared by both developed and developing economies, ABAC adopted the theme of "Mind the Gap: Making Globalization an Opportunity for All." The purpose of the meeting was to develop recommendations that would transform growth in the region into lasting development by spreading the benefits of globalization more widely and evenly within and between countries. ABAC focused on three sub-themes to focus their recommendations-achieving trade and investment liberalization, facilitating business, and capacity building for sustainable growth and development.
For information, see:
http://www.ctasc.org.tw/07ABAC/leader2008G.doc
https://www.abaconline.org/v4/download.php?ContentID=4635

10th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers 2008
Date: August 4–10, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS); Nanyang Technological University
The conference gathered nearly 100 senior military officers and addressed new dimensions in international security, the media involvement in international conflict, and the rise of private military companies. Participants also discussed the role of cultural knowledge in military operations. Other topics addressed included maritime security, Asia Pacific security, and violence in Southeast Asia.
For information, see:
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Digital-Library/Publications/Detail/?ots591=0C54E3B3-1E9C-BE1E-2C24-A6A8C7060233&lng=en&id=96881

ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2008
Date: August 5–8, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN
In conjunction with the 26th AMEM, the meeting aimed to build consensus on energy policy between governments and the private sector in order to enhance energy security and cooperation in the region.
For information, see:
http://www.aseansec.org/Bulletin-Aug-08.htm#Article-7

Asia-Pacific Security Forum
Date: August 10–11, 2008
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Forum CSIS; Strategic and Development Studies (Philippines); the Asia Centre (France); Institute for National Policy Research (Taipei)
Attended by experts from academia, regional and international institutions, and observing government representatives, the forum examined "Asian Elections 2007-2008: Regional Security Implications." Four sessions led by key experts in the field sparked discussions on the security implications of the elections in South Korea, Japan, and Russia; Taiwan's elections and the implications for cross-strait relations; the elections in Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia, and the security implications of the 2008 US elections.
For information, see:
http://csis.org/files/media/csis/events/080811_pacfor_agenda.pdf

Workshop on East Asia Facing a Rising China
Date: August 11–12, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:East Asia Institute, Konrad Adenauer Foundation
The workshop provided an up-to-date analysis of East Asian countries and their multifaceted relations-diplomatic, security, economics, and cultural-with China. A key aspect of this workshop was the participation by Chinese experts who examined the relations of specific East Asian countries with China.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/73/2/-/-/veranstaltung_id-30756/

Conference on Negotiating Strategies for Creating a Liberalized Air Transport Bloc in Northeast Asia
Date: August 14–15, 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:East-West Center; Korea Transport Institute
The conference objectives were to evaluate the implications of recent developments in the world's air transport industry on Northeast Asia (NEA) and to investigate ways to create a liberalized air transport bloc in Northeast Asia similar to the EU and NAFTA. The participants also investigated the feasibility of NEA-EU, NEA-North America (North Pacific Common Aviation Area), and NEA-ASEAN intercontinental open-skies markets.
For information, see:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/past-east-west-center-events/?class_call=view&conf_ID=1605&mode=view

East Asia and the Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Congress III against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents
Date: August 18–19, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Several hundred experts, government officials, and young activists from around the region attended the preparatory meeting, with the goal of producing a set of recommendations addressing the problem of sexual exploitation of children. The attendees examined practical examples of combating the problem from different areas of the region and also discussed how to effectively open channels to secure greater regiona and international cooperation to guarantee children's and adolescents' right to be protected from sexual exploitation. The participants discussed time-bound goals for combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children, focusing on the issues of child prostitution and its relation to gender dynamics, child trafficking for sexual purposes and linkages with migration, sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism, and sexual exploitation of children through internet technologies.
For information, see:
http://www.ecpat.net/WorldCongressIII/regional2.php

3rd ACD High-Level Study Group (HLSG) Meeting
Date: August 18–19, 2008
Location: Kazakhstan
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD)
In the final HLSG meeting, attended by representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs from ASEAN member countries, participants agreed on a set of recommendations to take to the seventh ACD Ministerial Meeting in October 2008. These included refining the end goals ACD cooperation, creating a virtual secretariat as a first step toward creating an ACD secretariat, the value of Track II participation in the ACD process, and the working principles of ACD membership, including openness and inclusiveness.
For information, see:
http://www.acddialogue.com/news/news_detail.php?ID=132

ARTNeT Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Initiative Research Team Meeting - Political Economy of Regional Integration in the GMS: A Stakeholder Analysis
Date: August 18–19, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The ARTNeT GMS initiative research team met to report on the progress of the study, focusing their discussions on the issue of the political economy of regional Integration in the GMS region. The ARTNeT GMS initiative aims to provide enhanced complementary support to research institutions from the subregion to conduct joint trade-related research on issues of interest to policymakers. The initiative includes a capacity-building component involving research institutions in the three GMS countries as well as a research component.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/tid/artnet/mtg/rtm.asp

Roundtable on Information Technology Infrastructure
Date: August 22–23, 2008
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN; US Agency for International Development (USAID)
The roundtable brought together representatives from the national telecommunications ministries and key national and multinational private sector providers to discuss the issue of ASEAN's information infrastructure and to develop recommendations to be presented to the meeting of the ASEAN telecommunication ministers. ASEAN telecommunication ministers worked together to create the necessary policy environment to help meet the ASEAN Community Blueprint's 2010 deadline to facilitate high-speed connections among all national information infrastructures.
For information, see:
http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADM820.pdf

6th Annual NEAT Conference; 9th NEAT Country Coordinators Meeting of NEAT
Date: August 24–25, 2008
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:Network of East Asia Think-Tanks (NEAT); hosted by the Center of East Asian Corporation Studies of Indonesia University
Approximately 50 representatives and experts from the 11 ASEAN+3 nations participated in the annual conference. Participants heard reports on the results of the activities from six working groups focusing on East Asian environmental cooperation, East Asian financial cooperation, East Asian investment cooperation, enhancement of East Asian cultural exchange, East Asian cooperative framework for migrant labor, and the future direction of NEAT. It was also established that the fifth memorandum of the NEAT policy recommendation on "Strengthening Cooperation and Consolidation toward Closer Integration," which was adopted in Bali, would be submitted to the ASEAN+3 Summit held in December 2008.
For information, see:
http://www.ceac.jp/e/neat.html

4th Meeting of the CSCAP Export Controls Experts Group
Date: August 25–26, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) and US Member Committee (USCSCAP)
This experts group analyzes current efforts and practices of national-level export controls of nuclear energy, and explores additional ways to promote and enhance nuclear energy transparency. At the fourth meeting, approximately 36 participants from the 10 CSCAP committees and other institutions met to discuss how to improve capacity in CSCAP member countries in strategic trade management under the theme of "Regional and National Solutions for Strategic Trade Management." A specific objective of the meeting was to draft a Memorandum on Strategic Trade Controls to be presented to the CSCAP Steering Committee for adoption as a CSCAP memorandum.
For information, see:
http://www.cscap.org/index.php?page=export-controls-experts-group-xcxg
http://www.cscap.org/uploads/docs/XCXGReports/4XCXGRpt.pdf

Energy, Climate, and Food Security Conference: Responding to Global Challenges through Regional Cooperation and Public-Private Partnership
Date: August 27, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Institute of Management Policy Center
Approximately 300 participants from the business sector, civil society, government, humanitarian organizations, diplomatic corps, international organizations, academia, and the media attended the conference, which sought to raise greater public awareness on pressing global challenges related to food, energy, and climate security issues. The conference sought to engage the business sector and to identify ways to enable the business community, civil society, and other stakeholders to respond to these three interlocking global challenges.
For information, see:
http://www.policy.aim.edu.ph/ecf.asp

20th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues
Date: August 27–29, 2008
Location: Saitama, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific; Government of Japan; Saitama City Government
This year's conference, uder the overall theme of "Nuclear Disarmament, Nonproliferation, and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy: Trends and Challenges," addressed several critical issues in the fields of disarmament and nonproliferation, such as challenges to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime and initiatives to overcome them, nuclear renaissance and nuclear nonproliferation, security in East Asia and arms control, and cooperation with civil society. Approximately 90 representatives of government, international organizations, academic and research institutions, and civil society participated in the conference.
For information, see:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/dc3130.doc.htm

Regional Workshop on Energy and Nontraditional Security
Date: August 28–29, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University
Based on the premise that political thinking on energy security has focused primarily on ensuring supply without sufficient attention to the socioeconomic and environmental impact as well as the role of non-state actors, the regional workshop used a multidisciplinary approach as a means of observing the current issues concerning energy security and its impact on East Asian, state, and human security. Twenty-six scholars from diverse fields attended the two day workshop, which included presentations on contemporary regional views on energy security; country studies from the Northeast and Southeast Asian regions, the United States, India, and Australia; the non-traditional dimensions of energy security; environmental and socioeconomic impact; and the role of the market, technology, and civil society.
For information, see:
http://www.rsis.edu.sg/nts/Events/energy-n-nts.htm
http://www.rsis.edu.sg/nts/resources/policy_briefs_and_reports/RSIS%20Conf%20Report%20Energy%20NTS%20full.pdf

Workshop on Consensus Building in Asia: Developing Energy and Natural Resources, Building Sustainable Society
Date: August 29, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Consensus Building in Asia; hosted by the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science Projec, University of Tokyo; co-funded by the Center on Asia and Globalization
Leading scholars and policy makers from around the world met to discuss sustainability science and the promotion of good governance through trials and evaluations of consensus building approaches to public policy disputes. Panel sessions covered the consensus building process; food and bio-fuel; land, water, and institutional issues; and energy.
For information, see:
http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/cag/Past_Events.aspx
http://www.cbasia.org/conference/CBAsia2008-public-final.pdf

J-Global Forum
Date: August 31–September 1, 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:JoongAng Ilbo; Yumin Cultural Foundation
Approximately 30 scholars and journalists from around the world gathered at the forum to discuss the theme "New Asia: America's Role." The forum explored the expansion of the role of Asian nations such as South Korea, China, and Japan in the international community and the subsequent changes in US policies.
For information, see:
http://www.jconference.org/Eng/Forum/Program.asp?TmpYear=2008

September

6th Meeting of the Working Group on Energy Planning and Policy
Date: September 2–3, 2008
Location: Irkutsk
Organizers/Supporters:Korea Energy Economics Institute; United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
The working group, which was established by UNESCAP officials in 2005 to identify possible energy cooperation activities in the region, met to review its report on regional energy development potential, prepare for the second Northeast Asia Government-Business Dialogue, discuss a five-year strategy for energy cooperation in Northeast Asia, and finalize funding plans. The meeting was attended by representatives and experts from Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation. It was also attended by participants from Northeast Asia, who shared their experiences and views on issues relevant to the implementation of an intergovernmental collaborative mechanism for energy cooperation in the region.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esd/energy/trade_and_cooperation/cooperation/epp6/index.asp

6th Meeting of the Regional Thematic Working Group on Poverty Reduction on Hunger (RTWGPH)
Date: September 5, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The sixth meeting reviewed issues pending from previous meetings, including an update on the creation of an online portal for dissemination of information about hunger issues as well as preparations for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The participants also discussed the gender-related aspects of poverty and hunger as well as preparations for the UN-ASEAN Summit to take place in December 2008. In the last session of the meeting, the working group reviewed briefings by UN agencies working on related issues, including rising food prices and food security. Participants included representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNESCAP, UN Millennium Campaign, UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo, and other UN organizations.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/pdd/calendar/pov-hunger/Minutes_6pov-hunger_sept08.pdf

ADB Urban Day 2008
Date: September 8, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank
The first annual forum organized by ADB's Urban Community of Practice gathered participants from national and local governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia to discuss pressing urban issues under the theme, "Environment and Livable Cities." The participants tackled issues on solid waste management, climate change, and city cluster development, and their impacts on promoting livable cities. The forum, which facilitates knowledge exchange among urban specialists, sought to discuss and develop urban projects and initiatives in line with Strategy 2020, the ADB's long-term plan to create an Asia Pacific region free of poverty by supporting three complementary development agendas: inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/ADB-Urban-Day2008/default.asp

5th Baikal Economic Forum
Date: September 8–11, 2008
Location: Irkutsk, Russia
Organizers/Supporters:Federations Board of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Administration of Irkutskaya Oblast; the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; the Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation
Under the title, "Europe-Russia-Asia-Pacific: Integration and Cooperation," the international conference involved approximately 1,500 officials, parliamentarians, and financial sector participants. The agenda covered issues of cooperation on topics focusing on Siberia and the Far East. In particular, participants discussed energy, transport infrastructure, development of the timber industry, and creation of special economic zones. On September 11, 2008, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) also held a SCO Day and hosted a meeting of the SCO Business Council Governing Board. Among the topics discussed during the SCO business council meeting were its potential involvement in the process of founding an SCO "energy club," work in the fields of health care and social protection in the SCO member states, interstate initiatives concerning development of insurance funds, and the creation of an SCO university.
For information, see:
http://en.baikalforum.ru/

ADB Transport Forum: Asia on the Move—Energy Efficient and Inclusive Transport
Date: September 9–12, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The forum served as a platform for exchanging information on holistic solutions for sustainable transport development with particular focus on urban mobility, rural transport, transport and climate change, road safety, and public-private partnerships on transportation projects. In addition to addressing the important environmental concerns associated with transportation systems, it also tackled the financial, administrative, and social issues involving transport projects. The four-day forum was attended by over 250 delegates from over 30 countries, including national and local government officials, officials from bilateral and multilateral donors, and representatives from academia, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/ADB-Transport-Forum-2008/default.asp

Regional Thematic Working Group on International Migration, including Human Trafficking
Date: September 9, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters: UNESCAP and International Organization on Migration
Established in 2005, the working group consists of 16 UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations that focus on issues related to international migration.The group met four times in 2008 to share information on recent activities undertaken to address international migration issues such as human trafficking. Its activities culminated in October 2008 with the publication of the Situation Report on International Migration in East and South-East Asia, which identified recent levels and patterns of international migration at national and subregional levels in the region. The report provided an overview of the multidimensional aspects of international migration and explored specific migration issues such as gender, health, and regional cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.un.org/esa/population/meetings/seventhcoord2008/P03_ESCAP.pdf

Emerging Asian Regionalism: Trends and Challenges
Date: September 10, 2008
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia; Asian Development Bank; Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Experts from government, academia, and international institutions from both sides of the Pacific gathered for two sessions analyzing Asian economic regionalism as well as its implications. In particular, they discussed and disseminated the findings of the Asian Development Bank's new publication, Emerging Asian Regionalism: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity. The book had five key findings: (1) Asian economic integration is an idea whose time has come; (2) Asian integration has generally been market-led and private-sector driven; however, this market-led process would benefit from a helping hand from the government going forward; (3) while Asia can learn some useful lessons from Europe, it has distinct characteristics and must calibrate its own model of integration; (4) Asia is following an outward-looking model of integration which should be further built on; (5) Asian integration is a positive trend for the countries involved, the region as a whole, and the world at large.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/printer-friendly.asp?fn=%2FDocuments%2FSpeeches%2F2008%2Fms2008069.asp&news=none

Joint International Symposium on Disaster Risk Management
Date: September 11, 2008
Location: Sendai, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO); Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE); JSCE's National Assembly Congress.
This second symposium in a series on international meetings brought together 13 papers on seismic and water related disasters and their measures. Participants discussed the 2008 Sichuan Great Earthquake and the 2007 Super Cyclone Sidr, the technological restoration and recovery support activities of the Interdisciplinary Liaison Council led by JSCE, and suggestions for future surge storm measures in Bangladesh. Beyond the presentations in the symposium, some research and practical experiments on measures for floods and tsunamis from Bangladesh, Canada, and Japan were also introduced. These meetings aim to serve as a catalyst for larger scale joint symposiums between WFEO and other organizations around the world on disaster risk management. More than 50 participants from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam attended.
For information, see:
http://www.wfeo.org/documents/download/DRM%20Report%20of%20Symposium.pdf

Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO Asia) 2008
Date: September 13–14, 2008
Location: Nagoya, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Ministry of Environment, Japan
Environment ministers and senior officials of Asia Pacific countries, and representatives from international organizations, local governments, research institutes, and NGOs gathered for ECO Asia 2008. The meeting began with a series of three presentations on biodiversity-road to 2010 and beyond-in session one, followed by a second session focusing on specific actions for biodiversity. Key issues discussed included the status, targets, and approaches to sustaining biodiversity; elevating biodiversity at the policy level, especially in regard to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; multi-stakeholder involvement; and encouraging international and regional cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.cbd.int/doc/reports/eco-asia-2008-summary-en.pdf

Pacific Island Nation Security Issues Workshop
Date: September 16–19, 2008
Location: Tonga
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS)
This workshop brought together senior security practitioners from the Pacific Island nations to discuss priority security concerns within the region and paths toward more effective multilateral collaboration to address these issues. The objectives of this event were to review existing and anticipated security issues among Pacific Island nations, and discuss the basic requirements for sustaining existing collaborative structures and forums in order to better address such concerns. Participants characterized the security environment as deteriorating, but had a positive view on current regional collaborative efforts. They also considered that the level of inter-agency coordination within their nations is adequate, but in need of improvement. Finally, they identified principal constraints and capacity needs in pursuing security objectives.
For information, see:
http://www.apcss.org/core/Conference/PacificIslandNationSecurityWorkshopAssessmentAbstract.doc

3rd Berlin Conference on Asian Security: China in Asia's Future-Perspectives from Asia, the United States, and Europe
Date: September 17–19, 2008
Location: Berlin, Germany
Organizers/Supporters:Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
The 3rd meeting of the "Berlin Group" met to discuss a variety of Asian security issues, primarily focusing on its theme of "China in Asia's Future." The first three sessions focused on China's policies on Asia, and the policies of other Asian countries toward China. The fourth and fifth sessions respectively examined future options for the United States in Asia and the current role of Europe The conference concluded with a panel discussion on "China in Asia's Future: Implications for Policy-Making." Founded in 1998, the group aims to facilitate an exchange of information and views among European, American, and Asian scholars and officials on Asia Pacific security issues.
For information, see:
http://www.swp-berlin.org/projekte/projekt.php?id=3284&lang=en
http://www.swp-berlin.org/en/projekte/projekt.php?&id=3284&page=2

Restructuring Beyond the Subprime
Date: September 18–19, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The conference, held for the first time in the Asia Pacific region, brought together banking and securities regulators and supervisors, executives from global credit rating agencies and investment banks, academics, and representatives from the International Monetary Fund, Bank for International Settlements, and Asian Development Bank to discuss and exchange ideas on measures to strengthen global, regional, and national financial markets in the wake of the US subprime mortgage crisis. The first day of the conference focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the regulatory environment, while the second day focused on Asian asset markets and the impact of financial restructuring. It addressed regulators' perspectives, the role of asset management companies, and other policy responses. It also provided an opportunity to discuss how best to cooperate in developing stable and robust financial systems.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/Restructuring-Beyond-The-Subprime/default.asp

6th Asia-Europe Environment Forum (ENVFORUM) Roundtable
Date: September 18–19, 2008
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Europe Foundation; Hanns Seidel Foundation; Swedish Environmental Secretariat for Asia; Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Korea Environment Institute; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The roundtable, which included 40 participants from the countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), focused on a range of issues relevant to sustainable energy. These issues included the implications of increasing energy consumption and economic growth for Asia and Europe and ways to promote closer cooperation between the regions to promote clean and affordable energy. The participants discussed specific avenues for cooperation to take place, including enabling governmental policies and possibilities for harnessing cleaner fuels.
For information, see:
http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_project&task=view&id=15

3rd Policy Forum of the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth: Addressing Climate Change through the Green Growth
Date: September 18–20, 2008
Location: Cebu, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production; United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; United Nations Environment Programme; Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth
More than 65 participants from 19 UNESCAP member countries, as well as other UN agencies, international organizations, and research institutions attended the three day event exploring the "green growth" concept of sustainable consumption and production and how it can be used to support further climate action in the region. The first day focused on sustainable consumption and examined how both UNESCAP and the Seoul Initiative Network on Green Growth (SINGG) can facilitate a regional process for the formulation of the Asian and Pacific region. The second day focused on innovative financing and market mechanisms for low carbon societies and Green Growth policy tool applications. The third day focused on the results of a regional study for the promotion of publicly funded environmentally sound technology transfer, while examining the national policy and institutional systems of innovation of a number of countries across the Asian and Pacific region. The meeting was concluded with the adoption of the revised SINGG document.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esd/calendar/2008.asp
http://www.greengrowth.org/download/2008/singg_cebu/Other%20Materials/summary_and_conclusions.final.pdf

Expert Group Meeting on International Migration and Development in Asia and the Pacific
Date: September 20–21, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The expert group meeting brought together governments, international organizations, and civil society to discuss international migration trends in the Asia Pacific region, including regional migration policies, labor migration, and the relationship between international migration and development. The discussions of the expert group meeting served as preparation for the Asia-Pacific High-level Meeting on International Migration and Development to be held in September 2008.
For information, see:
http://www.un.org/esa/population/meetings/EGM_Ittmig_Asia/EGM_Ittmig_Asia.htm

5th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion Working Group on Agriculture (GMS WGA)
Date: September 22–24, 2008
Location: Vientiane, Lao PDR
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
This annual meeting is designed to update the GMS WGA on the progress of the Core Agriculture Support Program (CASP) and to discuss important issues relevant to food and energy security. This year, the meeting's objectives included identifying priority strategic interventions in subregional agricultural cooperation to address critical food and energy security and climate change concerns, reviewing and refocusing the WGA's work program toward speedy implementation of priority initiatives under CASP as an integral component of the Vientiane Plan of Action, and catalyzing support from development partners to implement CASP initiatives. It was attended by participants from the six GMS countries and representatives from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the International Rice Research Institute, and the Asian Development Bank Institute.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/WGA5-Meeting/default.asp

Integrated Workshop on Coping with Climate Change in the Typhoon Committee Area
Date: September 22–26, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The workshop was attended by 72 participants, including Typhoon Committee members and representatives from UNESCAP and the World Meteorological Organization. The participants agreed to hold a small meeting of the chairs of the working groups of the Typhoon Committee in order to discuss the formulation of new integrated projects on urban flood management and on coping with climate change.
For information, see:
http://www.typhooncommittee.org/41st/docs/Item%205.7/WRD-TC-41-5-7%20REPORT%20OF%20THE%20ACTIVITIES%20OF%20TCS.doc

Policy Dialogue on Bio-fuels in Asia: Benefits and Challenges
Date: September 22–26, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The objective of the dialogue was to better understand policy issues related to the utilization of biofuel energy resources in a sustainable manner and to discuss country-level and regional strategies. The dialogue focused on six main areas: biofuel and food security, socio-economic impact on rural development, environmental impact, technology transfer, regional cooperation, and sustainability standards. The participants concluded that sustainable development should be the guiding principle for biofuel expansion and called for the creation of standards that promote the use of next generation biofuel technologies according to the specific conditions of individual countries. They also concluded that trade within Asian countries should be given priority. Expert representatives from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand attended as well as representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Asia Pacific Centre for Agricultural Engineering and Machinery, the UN Development Programme, and the Energy Resources Institute of India.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/ESD/energy/dialogue/biofuels/benefit_challenges/

7th Japan-ASEAN Dialogue: Prospect of Japan-ASEAN Partnership after the Second Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation
Date: September 25, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Global Forum of Japan; ASEAN Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS); supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund
The three day event included both a public dialogue and an exclusive policy recommendations drafting meeting. The public dialogue portion consisted of three sessions and had a total of 107 participants. The theme of the first session was "An East Asian Community and Japan-ASEAN Relations." The second session focused on "Japan-ASEAN Cooperation for Sustainable Development." In the third session, the participants discussed "Japan-ASEAN Cooperation for Political and Security Partnership." The policy recommendations drafting meeting, which was closed to the public, was held for the first time. Participants worked on policy recommendations based on the achievements of the dialogue. Global Forum of Japan and each of the ASEAN-ISIS member institutes submitted policy recommendations to the respective governments of Japan and ASEAN.
For information, see:
http://www.gfj.jp/eng/dialogue/30/cp.pdf

Workshop on Migration and Diversity in Asian Contexts
Date: September 25–26, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Research Institute and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Migration Cluster, National University of Singapore
The aim of this workshop was to explore the changing landscape of migration and diversity in various Asian contexts. Participants examined the current dominant approaches in scholarship, policy, and practice on migration and diversity; the management of diversity in Asian contexts; and the key areas for further in-depth research. They discussed migration issues pertinent to the Asian region, including cross-nationality marriages, undocumented migration, the phenomenon of return migration, and labour migration system systems bifurcated between low-skilled and highly skilled workers.
For information, see:
http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventid=782

The United States and Southeast Asia: Toward a Strategy for Enhanced Engagement
Date: September 25–26, 2008
Location: Washington DC, USA
Organizers/Supporters:CSIS
The conference featured 15 prominent Southeast Asians and US policy makers as panelists and keynote speakers. It focused attention on the critical developments in Southeast Asian affairs and US-Southeast Asian relations. Topics included America's place in the region, trends in ASEAN affairs, and shifting external power dynamics. The participants also discussed US strategic partnerships in Southeast Asia, including cooperation with Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore, and US emerging partnerships in Southeast Asia, including cooperation with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
For information, see:
http://csis.org/event/united-states-and-southeast-asia-toward-strategy-enhanced-engagement-day-1

Trilateral Relations among China, Russia, and the USA: Structure, Reception, and Politics
Date: September 26, 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Organizers/Supporters:Shanghai Institute for International Studies
Discussions revolved around the evolution of the international strategy structure, changes in Eurasian geopolitics, and transitions in Russian domestic politics and the resulting impacts on the China-Russia-US trilateral relationship and its future developmental direction.
For information, see:
http://www.shstone.net/siisweb/en/Meeting_View_En.aspx?mid=79&type=1

Emerging Asian Regionalism: ASEAN-India FTA and Beyond
Date: September 28, 2008
Location: New Delhi, India
Organizers/Supporters:Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS); ADB
Representatives from the ASEAN and Indian governments, the private sector, and academia gathered to discuss issues related to India's role in ASEAN, especially in relation to free-trade agreements (FTAs). Participants took part in two working sessions on the topics of India's role in a broader Asian regionalism and the implications of an India-ASEAN FTA for emerging Asian regionalism.
For information, see:
http://www.ris.org.in/diary_october2008.pdf

APEC Energy Trade and Investment Roundtable
Date: September 30–October 2, 2008
Location: Cairns, Australia
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The roundtable addressed priority barriers to energy, trade, and investment identified in a PricewaterhouseCoopers study, as well as other aspects of the study such as ranking "at-border" and "behind-the-border" barriers impacting the trade and the investment potential of regional energy markets. The report highlighted the importance that well-functioning energy markets play in supporting economic growth, and addressed the challenges of energy security and sustainable development throughout the APEC region. The meeting brought together energy, trade, and investment experts from both government and industry sectors, and guest speakers from a range of international organizations.
For information, see:
http://www.tmm.com.au/whats-coming-up/details/11-APEC_Roundtable.html
http://www.ret.gov.au/energy/international_engagement/apec_ewg/meetings/Pages/roundtable.aspx

October

Meeting to Review Study Results on Urban Safety for the Poor in Asia and the Pacific
Date: October 1–2, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/calendar/2008/2008.pdf

Bilateralism Versus Multilateralism in Southeast Asia
Date: October 3–5, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:Hiroshima Peace Institute
This was the first gathering of researchers working on a research project to examine a number of high profile cases of bilateral tensions between ASEAN member states to determine the causes of persistent bilateral tensions. As for the countries involved in bilateral disputes, nine sets of important relationships were chosen-Vietnam-Cambodia, Vietnam-Laos, Myanmar-Thailand, Malaysia-Thailand, Indonesia-Malaysia, Indonesia-Philippines, Malaysia-Philippines, Malaysia-Singapore, and Indonesia-Singapore. After a listing of the reasons, the next stage of the research will examine how the tensions were eventually resolved. In order to frame the research within the international and regional context, there will also be one paper each examining the general nature of international relations and Southeast Asian international relations in particular. This project aims at publishing an edited volume as an end product.
For information, see:
http:// serv.peace.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/English/dletter/ne3306.pdf

Advancing ASEAN-EU Relations in the 21st Century
Date: October 6, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Konrad Adenauer Stiftung; Centre for European Studies
This seminar aimed to address various issues regarding relations between ASEAN and the European Union, including the ASEAN Charter and the European Constitution, cooperation in the field of security, and the impacts of globalization on both ASEAN and the European Union.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/6/2/veranstaltung_id-31949/index.html

Workshop on Developing, Planning and Administering Humanitarian Disaster Relief
Date: October 6–10, 2008
Location: Seoul, Korea
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies; Korean Institute of Defense Analysis
This workshop looked at government approaches and processes used in managing disaster relief efforts.
For information, see:
http://www.apcss.org/core/APCSS%20News/currents/Currents08/currentsSummer08_text.htm#upcoming

23rd Pacific Economic Community Seminar: Climate Change and Green Opportunities-Business, Society, and Cooperation
Date: October 7, 2008
Location: Taipei
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Economic Cooperation Council; Chinese Taipei Pacific Economic Cooperation Committee
This international conference, convened in Taipei, served as a regional forum for an exchange of views on the subject of climate change and green opportunities. Business opportunities were first explored by looking at ways to gain from the increasing emphasis on clean production and green consumption. The strategy and engagement of society in the battle against climate change were also discussed. Finally, regional cooperation mechanisms were examined in the goal that climate change can be effectively addressed through collective means. Seventeen participants from the government, educational, and private sectors throughout the Asia-Pacific region, China, and Canada gathered for an exchange of views on the subject of climate change and green opportunities.
For information, see:
http://www.pecc.org/ctpecc-climate-change/

Policy Forum on Towards a Copenhagen Consensus: Opportunities and Challenges
Date: October 9–10, 2008
Location: Kyoto, Japan
IGES has held the forum since 2005 to deepen the debate in Asia on the international post-Kyoto climate change regime. Approximately 80 participants attended this forum, including regional policymakers, business leaders, and academics, as well as representatives from international organizations such as the OECD. The discussion focused on eight controversial themes in the Bali Action Plan, including sectoral approaches, co-benefits, adaptation, and the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries. The results of this consultation were to be presented at a side event at the 14th Conference of the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change scheduled for December 2008.
For information, see:
http://www.iges.or.jp/en/cp/activity20081009.html

European Integration and the Northeast Asian Community: Lessons Learned and Prospects
Date: October 10, 2008
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters:Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) and Korean Association of International Studies (KAIS)
Conference participants met to discuss the experience of the European Union model and the establishment of a similar community in Northeast Asia. Numerous international experts participated, not only as presenters, but also as discussants during the conference.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/65/2/-/-/veranstaltung_id-32449/

10th East Asia-Europe Think Tank Dialogue: Institutional Development in Regional Organizations-Charter Making in the EU and ASEAN
Date: October 12–15, 2008
Location: Cebu, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS)
The annual event promotes intellectual exchange and research collaboration between Track 2 representatives from East and Southeast Asian as well as EU countries. It aims to address common issues facing the respective regions, to exchange best practices and lessons learned in meeting similar challenges, and to provide inputs to inter-regional cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/65/2/-/-/veranstaltung_id-32449/

APEC 2009 Symposium
Date: October 14–16, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:APEC
About 200 senior government officials, business executives, and academics gathered to brainstorm ideas to advance Asia-Pacific economic integration. The two-day symposium covered three key issues for APEC: to reduce barriers to trade and investment flows, improve the region's business environment, and boost connectivity through improved transport and logistics networks.
For information, see:
http://www.apec2009.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97:singapore-hosts-discussions-to-advance-asia-pacific-economic-integration&catid=39:press-releases&Itemid=37
http://apec2009.sg/

6th East Asia Forum (EAF)
Date: October 15–16, 2008
Location: Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
Organizers/Supporters:East Asia Forum
The EAF is an international organization established following a proposal from the reports of the East Asia Vision Group and the East Asia Study Group, which were established at the request of the ASEAN+3 Summit. While the Network of East Asian Think-Tanks aims to promote the networking of think tanks and act as a source of research information to assist in building an East Asian community, the EAF assembles business, academia, and government representatives from ASEAN+3 countries and provides a knowledge base for regional integration in East Asia. Sixty-seven participants joined the forum from ASEAN+3 countries, held under the main theme of "Toward East Asia Community: Turning Challenges through Greater Cooperation and Collaboration into Opportunities." Two sessions on the second day focused on greater cooperation and collaboration to address energy, food security, and the narrowing development gap, specifically accelerating regional integration and bringing strategic benefits to the region.
For information, see:
http://www.ceac.jp/e/exchangEaf.html

5th ROK-US-Japan Joint Workshop
Date: October 16–17, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA); National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS)
This workshop was formulated by adding Japan to an already existing ROK-US security workshop. This workshop contributes to the security cooperation among the three countries through the promotion of dialogue on security-related current issues and political-military games.
For information, see:
http://kida.re.kr/eng/cooperation/cooperation_03.htm

3rd Connecting Civil Societies of Asia and Europe
Date: October 17–18, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
The two-day conference was a culmination of ASEF's new initiative that aimed to generate focused policy discussions on key socio-economic issues facing the two regions. The conference was a side event of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) VII Summit in Beijing, which allowed dialogue among 45 international leaders on how to address the global financial and economic crisis, energy security, sustainable development, and climate change. The objective of the conference was to prepare a report on economic and social issues for ASEM, produced from expert analysis and multi-stakeholder consultation. The main issues of discussion included food and environmental security, energy and oil, and financial market turbulence. The conference brought together 50 international participants from the government, NGOs, academia, media, and research sectors.
For information, see:
http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_project&task=view&id=467

China-ASEAN Think Tank Strategic Dialogue: Managing Challenges, Expanding Cooperation
Date: October 20–21, 2008
Location: Nanning, Autonome Region Guangxi
Organizers/Supporters:Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; ASEAN Think Tank Network; Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Convening thinktank experts from the ASEAN region countries and China, participants discussed a range of topics divided into six sessions and one special session. Topics included strategic trends in the Chinese perspective on East Asia; political developments in China and Southeast Asia China after the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party; China, ASEAN, and relations with Europe and North America; and prospects for East Asia community building. Participants also discussed the role of Nanning in sub-regional economic cooperation and integration.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/37/2/-/-/veranstaltung_id-32303/

Sub-regional Workshop on Addressing Multi-sectoral Determinants of Maternal Morality in the ESCAP Region
Date: October 20–22, 2008
Location: Hefei, China
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The workshop brought together representatives from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Vietnam to discuss the findings of national level studies to share experiences of reducing maternal mortality and develop country-level action plans to address the issue. The participants discussed policy recommendations to address medical and non-medical factors in maternal mortality and highlighted regional examples of good practices in reducing maternal mortality.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esid/psis/meetings/MMR/index.asp

Asia-Pacific Development Cooperation Forum: Regional Workshop on Trends and Progress in Triangular and South-South Cooperation
Date: October 21–22, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Under the theme that South-South and triangular cooperation is of growing importance in Asia-Pacific regional development cooperation, participants in the regional workshop discussed a range of issues related to helping developing countries achieve sustainable and inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, and transparent and accountable governance in order to become less dependent on external aid in the future.
For information, see:
http://www.un.org/ecosoc/newfunct/pdf/apdcf_joint_statement.pdf

Expert Group Meeting on Sustainability of Economic Growth, Resource Efficiency and Resilience
Date: October 22–24, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The expert group meeting convened international and regional experts involved in research on socio-economic and environmental interactions, resource efficiency, and economic, social and environmental resilience. Participants discussed developing an analytical framework for assessing the sustainability of economic growth and investigating resilience and resource-efficiency as key determinants of sustainability.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/egm/soe_2008/

WIPO/ESCAP High-level Regional Round Table Dialogue on Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights and Development
Date: October 22–24, 2008
Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP Trade and Investment Division; World Intellectual Property Organization; and Government of Mongolia
The high-level roundtable gathered representatives of Southeast Asian countries, China, and Mongolia, as well as leaders from the UN, Asia Foundation, and the private sector to raise awareness and promote regional cooperation in the area of trade and investment-related intellectual property rights. The participants discussed issues such as the importance of protecting intellectual property rights (IPR); IPR and the bilateral, regional, and multilateral trading system; intellectual property and public health; and capacity building for strengthening IPR in the Asia Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/tid/projects/iprt.asp

5th Meeting of Disaster and Environment Working Group of Asia (DEWGA)
Date: October 24, 2008
Location: N/A
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
Recognizing that disaster risk reduction and environmental management are closely linked and that it is essential to systematically integrate environmental management into disaster risk reduction frameworks and vice-versa, the aim of DEWGA is to create a multi-disciplinary community of practitioners in the Asia Pacific region that seek to increase the synergy between the two sectors. Since 2007, the DEWGA has worked to improve the effectiveness of both disaster risk reduction and environmental sustainability through specific interventions on the ground and through long-term strategies.
For information, see:
http://www.adpc.net/v2007/ADPC%20NEWS%20&%20EVENTS/October/DEWGA%20brochure.pdf

2nd Informal Consultation with South East Asian Countries on Perspective for a Post 2012 Climate Change Framework
Date: October 26, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
At the second consultation, participants discussed the progress made since the first consultation meeting in April 2008. The participants also discussed the development of a climate actions framework to and beyond 2012 to promote the active participation of Southeast Asian countries and ensure that their perspectives are reflected during the negotiation process. The meeting reviewed the progress of mitigation and adaptation actions at the national and regional levels. The participants also requested that UNESCAP and other international organizations provide technical assistance as necessary to Southeast Asian countries, including capacity building for Designated National Authorities, exploring South-South cooperation on climate friendly technologies, and policy studies.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/ESD/newsletters/documents/NewsletterDec2008.pdf

11th PIIC Beijing Seminar on International Security: Building a Harmonious World of Stability and Win-Win
Date: October 26–30, 2008
Location: Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
Organizers/Supporters:Program for Science and National Security Studies; cosponsored by the Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, China; the International School on Disarmament and Research on Conflicts, Italy; Chinese Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, China; Qingdao University, China
The main topics of the 11th seminar included the possibility of a nuclear weapons-free world, the risks of nuclear proliferation and benefits of nuclear power and technologies for civilian purposes, and other factors of concern on nuclear disarmament. The goal of the seminar was to continue to provide a forum for experts to discuss and exchange their views on issues of international security in light of the latest development in the global security environment. 10 previous seminars have been convened successfully every two years since 1988. They were actively attended by natural and social scientists, coming from both China and abroad, with a special focus on relations between science and important issues of international security.
For information, see:
http://www.isodarco.it/courses/beijing08/beijing08.html

Transnational Security Challenges and Cross-Regional Cooperation
Date: October 26–31, 2008
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Pacific Center on Security Studies (APCSS) and George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
Senior practitioners met to discuss broadened security perspectives beyond the boundaries of their respective regions and discuss areas for coordinated multilateral action at regional and cross-regional levels. The participants agreed that institutional links between Asia Pacific and Europe should be strengthened through free trade agreements, cross-regional safety mechanisms to ensure nuclear power safety, and consultations on reforming the international financial and monetary system, including crisis management mechanisms. The participants also discussed the development of a energy security code of conduct and the importance of promoting NGO and private sector participation in formulating and implementing cross-regional cooperation. As follow-up step, workshop participants endorsed a plan to conduct regular joint senior alumni seminars between the two organizations in the future.
For information, see:
http://www.apcss.org/core/Conference/MarshallCenterAPCSSEXECSUMMARYFINAL.doc

17th Northeast Asia Economic Forum (NEAEF)
Date: October 27–28, 2008
Location: Tianjin, China
Organizers/Supporters:Northeast Asia Economic Forum (NEAEF); Tianjin Municipal Government
At the 17th annual forum, participants focused on energy cooperation between Northeast Asian countries, energy conservation and environment, financial cooperation and the establishment of a Northeast Asia Bank for Cooperation and Development (NEABCD), and transportation and logistics. It concluded with the adoption of the Tianjin Declaration, with all parties agreeing that Northeast Asian countries should work together to strengthen multilateral cooperation and regional integration. There was also consensus in promptly establishing a Northeast Asian development bank. The forum furthermore witnessed the inauguration of the Northeast Asian Financial Cooperation Research Centre, which is expected to play a lead role in promoting financial cooperation and establishing the NEABCD. The forum gathered present and former officials and private sector representatives from China, South Korea, Russia, Japan, Mongolia, and the United States.
For information, see:
http://www.neaef.org/
http://english.enorth.com.cn/system/2008/11/25/003798986.shtml

International Conference on Sustainable Urban Environmental Practices
Date: October 28–31, 2008
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Canadian International Development Agency and Asian Institute of Technology Partnership Southeast Asia Urban Environmental Applications Project; Asian Institute of Technology; Mae Fah Luang University; Chiang Mai Municipality
The conference was organized to promote an understanding of sustainable urban environmental theory and practices with various stakeholders, managers, and practitioners of sustainable urban development in this globalizing era. The specific objectives were to exchange views and ideas on institutional collaboration, community participation and synergistic public private partnership among the urban stakeholders in the region, to derive information on good practices for dissemination to all local and national policy makers and policy influencers toward the development of suitable urban environment management (UEM) policies, and to analyze and improve current policies and practices in urban development and understand their gender responsiveness in implementation. The conference was organized into panels on sustainable urban environmental practices based on five themes-UEM toward sustainability, urbanization, and land-use planning; livable cities and the institutionalization of UEM good practices; sustainable mitigation of urban pollution; and city energy, climate change, and globalization.
For information, see:
http://www.sea-uema.ait.ac.th/News_Events/events/conference/CM_IC_Oct08/announcement.php

Asia-Pacific Forum: "EAFTA, CEPEA, FTAAP and Beyond"
Date: October 30–31, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:Japan Economic Foundation and Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
Focusing on East Asia and Asia-Pacific economic integration, the forum was divided into three sessions examining existing bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs) in the Asia-Pacific region and the progress on the creation of the proposed East Asia Free Trade Area, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia, and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific. The participants also discussed issues beyond FTAs in East Asia, including the possibility of a Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) FTA and various global warming-related issues
For information, see:
http://www.jef.or.jp/en_act/act_asia.asp?acd=145

November

2nd Track II Network of ASEAN Defence and Security Institute Meeting (NADI)
Date: November 2–5, 2008
Location: Chonburi Province, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Strategic Research Institute; National Defence Studies Institute Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
This informal meeting for the ASEAN defense and security institutes to discuss issues and proposals relevant to the ASEAN defense ministers' meeting (ADMM) provided opportunities to share experiences and views on regional security challenges and political outlooks, and prospects and recommendations for ASEAN defense and security cooperation. The meeting produced a statement of principles submitted to the third ADMM meeting in advance of its meeting in late November 2008.
For information, see:
http://www.srithailand.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67%3Anadi&catid=3%3Anewsflash&lang=en

Natural Catastrophe Risk Insurance Mechanisms for the Asia and Pacific Region
Date: November 4–5, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Development Bank (ADB)
The conference and workshops aimed to alert member countries to the potential for new catastrophe risk pooling opportunities and to hear the views of member countries on how such risk transfer vehicles could be most helpful to them in the context of their own risk management institutions. Its main objective was the development of consensus on forward action by governmental, private sector, and development partners to implement conference and workshop conclusions concerning the pooling of disaster management center risk in catastrophe insurance schemes, which could lead to the development of an ADB action plan for catastrophe insurance. Invited participants included ADB client countries, regional insurers and reinsurers, insurance brokers, financial institutes, development partners, multilateral development banks, and specialist research institutes.
For information, see:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2008/Catastrophe-Insurance-Mechanisms/default.asp

Regional Workshop on Institutional Changes Required to Achieve the MDG on Sanitation in Asia and the Pacific
Date: November 4–6, 2008
Location: Macao, China
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
At the World Toilet Summit and Expo, a regional workshop was held for 25 experts from throughout Asia, including representatives from national governments and regional and international organizations. The workshop included a discussion on the institutional changes required for promoting sanitation as well presentations from country representatives on success stories of instituting new sanitation policies.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/ESD/water/workshop/MDG_sanitation/index.asp

2nd Annual Convention of the Consortium of Nontraditional Security Studies in Asia (NTS-Asia)
Date: November 10–11, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Institute of Asia Pacific Studies; Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
NTS-Asia was established in 2007, with its secretariat based at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. With a network of 14 regional institutes and think tanks, NTS-Asia provides a platform for networking among scholars and analysts working on NTS issues in the region and seeks to build long-term and sustainable regional capacity for NTS research. At the second meeting, in addition to discussing the consortium's activities for the year, the participants addressed a range of current NTS issues such as food security, energy security, disaster diplomacy, and transnational crime.
For information, see:
http://www.rsis-ntsasia.org/activities/conventions/convention-beijing.html

1st Regional Workshop on the Development of Eco Efficient Water Infrastructure for Socio-economic Development in Asia and the Pacific Region
Date: November 10–12, 2008
Location: Seoul, Korea
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The first major activity of the project on "Development of Eco-efficient Water Infrastructure for Sustainable Development of Asia and the Pacific," the workshop aimed to reach a common understanding on the concept of eco-efficient water infrastructure development as well as the benefits and challenges of water infrastructure. The participants also discussed a potential regional partnership on eco-efficient water infrastructure development through networking of organizations and experts in the region.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/esd/water/projects/eewi/workshop/1st/index.asp

Informal Consultation with the Asian-Pacific Developing Countries on Perspectives for a Post 2012 Climate Change Framework
Date: November 11, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
One of a series of consultations between UNESCAP and developing Asian-Pacific countries on the post-2012 climate regime, the objectives of the meeting were to share views on potential follow-up actions after the Bali summit and to discuss ways to promote the active participation of the developing countries to ensure that their perspectives are reflected in the negotiation process. Approximately 30 negotiators and policy makers on climate change from regional developing countries and relevant organizations attended the meeting.
For information, see:
http://www.baq2008.org/preevent-escap

Better Air Quality 2008
Date: November 12–14, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Bangkok Metropolitan Administration; the Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand; the Clear Air Initiative Asia Center; in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
The fifth meeting held since 2001, the theme for the 2008 Better Air Quality workshop was "Air Quality and Climate Change: Scaling Up Win-Win Solutions for Asia." The workshop aimed to show how Asian cities can improve air quality and mitigate climate change by adopting a co-benefits approach that integrates urban air quality management, energy management, and climate change mitigation. Over 900 participants, including representatives from governments, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, academia, and intergovernmental agencies, gathered to listen to plenary and working group sessions organized within the thematic groups, including air quality management and climate change; transport and climate change; and stationary sources and indoor air pollution.
For information, see:
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-72204.html
http://www.baq2008.org
http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/sdbaq/

Jeju Peace Institute-Konrad Adenauer Foundation Joint Conference: Peace and Security in Northeast Asia: Ways for Institutionalization
Date: November 13, 2008
Location: Jeju, South Korea
Organizers/Supporters: Jeju Peace Institute, Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF)
Scholars from various fields from the United States, Germany, Austria, and Korea convened to ascertain the prospect for future cooperation and regional integration in Northeast Asia. Under the theme, "Peace and Security in Northeast Asia: Ways for Institutionalization," the following topics were discussed: new alliance dynamics in Northeast Asia and confidence building measures on the Korean Peninsula; peace and security in Europe and confidence building measures in pre-unified Germany; political economy of the peace regime on the Korean Peninsula and local governments' role for peace; and cooperation and economic development for human security regime in Northeast Asia as well as environmental cooperation in East Asia.
For information, see:
http://newsletter.jpi.or.kr/index.php?mid=KR02010203

The 2008 EWCA International Conference
Date: November 13–15, 2008
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:East-West Center Association (EWCA) and East-West Center (EWC)
Over 530 people from 45 different countries attended EWCA's 2008 international conference in Bali, Indonesia. The three-day event discussed a range of issues centered on the EWCA Strategic Plan: how to best support the EWC, how to energize their chapters, and how to use 21st century technology to communicate more effectively within the EWC/EWCA community. In addition, there was a broader series of programs that included a wide range of interests from music and education to globalization and human rights.
For information, see:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/bali2008

3rd ARF Experts and Eminent Persons Meeting
Date: November 13–15, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:ARF
Experts and eminent persons from 12 ARF countries attended, in addition to official representatives from most ARF member countries. Participants discussed ARF at 15 years-its experience and revelations-agreeing that ARF has been an important formal governmental security dialogue in the region. Participants also discussed present and future of ARF's confidence-building measures, the realities and practices of preventive diplomacy in the Asia Pacific, and key areas of non-traditional security cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.aseanregionalforum.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=07ABE61%2bC1g%3d&tabid=66&mid=1072

Building an Asia Pacific Community
Date: November 13–15, 2008
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:East-West Center
The conference brought together leaders from the government, education, and business sectors to discuss the creation of an Asia Pacific community. Under the theme of "Unity in Diversity," participants explored the major issues facing the region and consider ways to assist in their resolution. Themes included international relations, security, democracy and Islam, global warming, volunteerism, gender issues, innovation, health issues, future regional leaders, business, and culture.
For information, see:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/events/past-east-west-center-events/?class_call=view&conf_ID=1740&mode=view

Regional Thematic Working Group on International Migration, including Human Trafficking
Date: November 14, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP and International Organization on Migration (IOM)
Established in 2005, the working group consists of 16 UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations that focus on issues related to international migration.The group met four times in 2008 to share information on recent activities undertaken to address international migration issues such as human trafficking. Its activities culminated in October 2008 with the publication of the Situation Report on International Migration in East and South-East Asia, which identified recent levels and patterns of international migration at national and subregional levels in the region. The report provided an overview of the multidimensional aspects of international migration and explored specific migration issues such as gender, health, and regional cooperation.
For information, see:
http://www.un.org/esa/population/meetings/seventhcoord2008/P03_ESCAP.pdf

9th Trilateral Commission Pacific Asia Regional Meeting
Date: November 14–16, 2008
Location: Shanghai, China
Organizers/Supporters:Trilateral Commission; Japan Center for International Affairs (JCIE)
At the ninth annual regional meeting of the Trilateral Commission's Pacific Asia Group, members discussed (1) the rise of China and its potential as a partner in East Asia community building, (2) the financial crisis and its impact on East Asia regional economic integration, and (3) the growing impact of a dynamic East Asia on global governance. The Trilateral Commission was formed in 1973 by private citizens of Japan, Europe (European Union countries), and North America (United States and Canada) to foster closer cooperation among these core democratic industrialized areas of the world with shared leadership responsibilities in the wider international system. Over time, with the belief that its framework needed to be widened to reflect broader changes in the world, the Japan Group has become the Pacific Asian Group, and the North American and European groups have also expanded their membership. In addition to convening an annual plenary, each regional group carries out some activities of their own.
For information, see:
http://www.trilateral.org/PAGP/REGMTGS/08shanghai.htm

3rd Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit
Date: November 14–16, 2008
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Organizers/Supporters: Asia Society
Under the theme, "Challenges Beyond Borders, Solutions Beyond Cultures," the annual summit brought together some 200 "next-generation" leaders from the Asia-Pacific region and the United States to explore imaginative ways to address the most critical issues facing the Asia Pacific community today, develop common approaches to addressing these shared challenges, and cultivate the long-term relationships necessary for developing responses. Leading figures from across the fields of business, politics, civil society, media, arts and culture, and academia attended the event.
For information, see:
http://www.asiasociety.org/policy-politics/asia-21/2008-asia-21-young-leaders-summit

Financial and Macroeconomic Issues in Asian Economic Integration
Date: November 17, 2008
Location: New Delhi, India
Organizers/Supporters:East Asian Bureau of Economic Research (EABER); Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
The second conference in a five year project on "Advancing Economic Integration in South and East Asia," the project brings together EABER institutes from East Asia and a network of South Asian research institutes. Participants met to discuss financial sector reforms in India and South Asia, capital flow management in India and South Asia, and inflation and macroeconomic management in South Asia. They were also treated to a keynote session on inflation and macroeconomic management in India.
For information, see:
http://www.eaber.org/intranet/publish/Public/Project_AEISEA.php

19th Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue
Date: November 17–18, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation
The NEACD meeting offered an opportunity for all the countries involved in the Six-Party Talks to come together at the same time to exchange views informally and consider the next steps going forward on issues concerning the Six-Party Talks and the long-term future of the security architecture in Northeast Asia. Participants discussed nuclear verification, long-range security issues, Japan's level of support for multilateralism, and likely US policy under the Obama administration. Foreign and defense ministry policy-level officials, military officers, and academics from China, Russia, North and South Korea, Japan, and the United States took part in the meeting.
For information, see:
http://igcc.ucsd.edu/regions/asia_pacific/NEACD19.php

3rd Korea-ASEAN Cooperation Forum
Date: November 17–19, 2008
Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Organizers/Supporters:The Korea Foundation
A group of 30 leading representatives from various sectors in Korea and ASEAN countries gathered to discuss matters of mutual concern and to promote more active exchange. The Korea-ASEAN Cooperation Forum has been held annually since 2006.
For information, see:
http://newsletter.kf.or.kr/english/contents.asp?vol=106&lang=English&no=1313

Asia Pacific Regional Water Conference 2008: "A Shared Future In Water"
Date: November 17–19, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:Institute of Strategic International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia and Water Association of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (SWAN)
Water and wastewater professionals from around the region gathered to share and exchange ideas on the latest developments, technology advances, case studies, and insights in sustainable water and wastewater management. They discussed long-term solutions to increase the global supply of clean and safe drinking water globally and in the Asia Pacific region specifically, in light of growing evidence that the region will be increasingly affected by water security issues in the future.
For information, see:
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsfeatures.php?id=384799

4th APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting of 2008
Date: November 17–20, 2008
Location: Lima, Peru
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
ABAC, at its fourth and final meeting in 2008, has called on APEC Leaders and Ministers to seize the opportunity in responding to the global economic crisis to chart a course that will set all APEC economies on a path of recovery and renewed growth and development. The ABAC participants called on APEC leaders to throw their weight behind steps to resolve the outstanding issues in the Doha Round of trade negotiations. They also supported the undertaking by G-20 leaders to refrain from raising new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services, imposing new export restrictions, or implementing World Trade Organization (WTO) inconsistent measures to stimulate exports. In addition, the participants declared the need to enhance small and medium enterprise development in order for individual APEC economies to be globally competitive. Other issues considered at the ABAC meeting included trade and investment facilitation measures, labor mobility, food security, corporate social responsibility, energy security, ICT-enabled growth, and intellectual property rights protection.
For information, see:
https://www.abaconline.org/v4/download.php?ContentID=4772

UNESCAP/International Labor Organization (ILO) Sub-Regional Workshop on Sharing Experiences between Asian and Pacific Countries to Improve Income and Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable Groups - Paving the Way for National Action Plan
Date: November 17–21, 2008
Location: Nadi, Fij
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP and International Labour Organization (ILO)
The objective of the workshop was to capitalize on regional lessons learned as well as ILO expertise to take effective action to address youth employment problems in the region. The participants discussed the specific issues associated with youth employment problems and studied the ILO's guidelines on national action plans. The participants sought to identify steps to pave the way for the design of individual national action plans for youth employment in each country. The workshop also introduced the "Guide to Preparing the National Action Plans on Youth Employment," an operational document on meeting the goal of productive employment and decent work for young people.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/epoc/pdf/escap-ilo-Workshop%20Report.pdf

Expert Group Meeting on World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+5 and Emerging Issues in Asia and the Pacific
Date: November 18–19, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (UNESCAP-IDD)
Organized as a pre-session activity of the First Committee Session on Information Communication Technologies by UNESCAP-IDD, the expert group's was organized under the overall theme of WSIS+5 regional review and discussed emerging trends in information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Asia Pacific region. It highlighted key issues related to ICT development in the region, focusing on the implementation of the WSIS Plan of Action. Participants also discussed newly emerging issues such as the relationship between ICT and disaster risk reduction as well as ICT and food security.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/idd/events/EGM-WSIS+5-2008/index.asp

16th International Conference of the East and Southeast Network for Better Local Governments
Date: November 19–21, 2008
Location: Olongapo City, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS)
An international conference organized by the Manila-based NGO Local Government Development Foundation, KAS Singapore, and the city government of Olongapo, the conference was focused around the theme, "Cities in Search of Ideal Communities." Delegates from eight Asian countries convened to exchange information and raise public awareness on innovations in local government management. Urban development experts presented papers on topics such as creating livable communities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia, good practices in urban governance, and the role of collaborative initiative.
For information, see:
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/69/1/year-2008/month-9/veranstaltung_id-31839/index.html
http://www.logodef.org/esea_confe_info.php

3rd PECC Seminar on Water Management in Islands, Coastal, and Isolated Areas
Date: November 20–21, 2008
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Organizers/Supporters:Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and East-West Center
The meeting was convened to address a series of issues in preparation for the Istanbul meeting of the World Water Forum, including the cost analysis of technologies in the field of water sanitation and water treatment; analysis of the level of embodied energy in each technology to reduce the overall operational and usage costs for users; identification of best practices in protecting the water resources, taking into account the necessity for preventive sanitation and the development of the use of recycled water to compensate water scarcity in regions under a severe water stress, and the conditions that allow for better water service management.
For information, see:
http://www.pecc.org/water/papers/2008-Noumea-Conclusion-Paper.pdf

APEC CEO Summit
Date: November 20–23, 2008
Location: Lima, Peru
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The theme of the APEC CEO summit was "Growth, Equity and Sustainable Development: Challenges for APEC." First conceived in 1996 as an opportunity for corporate CEOs to participate in the APEC leaders' meetings, the annual summit gathers prominent members from both the public and private sectors of its member economies to facilitate cooperation between the two sectors. This year, 12 economic leaders, including Chinese president Hu Jintao, US president George W. Bush, and Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd; over 1200 political delegates; and nearly 600 CEOs attended the two-day event, which took place in Peru. Responding to the current economic climate, the summit concluded by appealing for public-private joint action to address the global financial crisis and to facilitate trade liberalization, emphasizing the need to restore confidence and prevent protectionism.
For information, see:
http://www.apec.org/apec/business_resources/apec_ceo_summit.html

The Future of Economic Integration in Asia: "Challenges amid Global Financial Turmoil"
Date: November 21–22, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC); Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University
More than 300 participants from government, business, and academia attended the two-day conference, which examined the future of economic integration in Asia. The sessions included topics on financial integration in Asia, including foreign direct investment, business opportunities, and the challenges of sustainability in terms of economic growth, resources, and the environment. A common view held by the participants was that progress in Asia's economic integration can maximize the potential of Asia as a whole and act as a mechanism to channel Asia's savings into productive investment opportunities within the region. The participants concluded that tripartite dialogues among business, academia, and policy makers should be further promoted and activated.
For information, see:
http://www.jbic.go.jp/en/about/topics/2009/0421-01/
7th Asian Public Intellectuals (API) Workshop
Date: November 22–26, 2008
Location: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:Nippon Foundation
The theme of the seventh API workshop was "Asian Alternatives for a Sustainable World: Transborder Engagements in Knowledge Formation." The API program, which is funded by The Nippon Foundation, has a mandate to promote mutual learning among Asian academics, media professionals, public servants, writers, and NGO workers, and is designed to stimulate the creation of a pool of such intellectuals in the region. The fellows are hosted in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, and work on year-long projects such as research papers, films, series of journalistic articles, data gathering, building networks, and works of art. At the annual workshop, the participants share the results and outcomes of their projects.
For information, see:
http://www.api-fellowships.org/body/archives.php

South China Sea Conference 2008
Date: November 25–29, 2008
Location: Kuantan, Malaysia
Organizers/Sponsors: ASEAN
In conjunction with the International Year of Planet Earth, the conference provided an opportunity to gather current information on the state of research in the South China Sea in order to formulate research priorities for this region. Topics of discussion included coastal biodiversity and bioproductivity, and eco-engineering technologies for coastal protection. Scientists, environmentalists, lawyers, and policy-makers were invited to the event, which included a field trip to the Kuantan-Kemaman coastal area.
For information, see: http://ioes.um.edu.my/scs2008/scs2008.html

Conference on Energy and Climate Change: "Challenges and Opportunities"
Date: November 26–27, 2008
Location: Bahrain
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Cooperation Dialogue
Experts from throughout Asia met to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to energy and climate change. Topics included climate change and its implication for ACD member states; possible programs and mechanisms for technology transfer, especially the technology of clean fuel production and the efficient utilization of energy resources; coordination and cooperation between ACD member countries in exchanging expertise and CDM project attraction; and means that might help ACD countries to benefit from financial tools and mechanisms related to the mitigation and compliance programs of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
For information, see:
http://www.acddialogue.com/news/news_detail.php?ID=133

Expert Group Meeting on Economic and Social Performance and Issues in the ESCAP Region
Date: November 26–27, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
UNESCAP experts gathered to discuss chapters from the publication "Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2009." The secretariat reviewed four chapters, which focused on the impact of the financial crisis; underlying factors and policy responses to the food and fuel crisis; resilience and policy responses to the impact of climate change; and policy responses to the convergence of crises and the compounding threat to development.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/pdd/calendar/EGM_dev_2008/T_pgrm.pdf

Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific
Date: November 26–28, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:ADB and OECD
While corruption is often discussed from the demand side (e.g. bribe solicitation), the conference provided an opportunity to address the corruption from the supply side (e.g. bribe giving). Regional experts and representatives from the private sector and civil society met to assess their shared responsibility to fight bribery and corruption. The participants agreed that corruption occurs where the private and public sectors intersect and that reducing corruption is not the responsibility of governments alone. Based on the workshop discussions, the final plenary proposed action to advance the fight against bribe giving in the Asia-Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_project&task=view&id=489

Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument: Workshop on Cybercrime Legislation in ASEAN Member States
Date: November 27–28, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN
Participants from ASEAN member countries reviewed the Convention on Cybercrime and how it can be implemented, discussed how to initiate analysis of their national legislation concerning the provisions of the convention; identifed the steps to be taken to further strengthen their national legislation concerning protection against cybercrime. Representatives from the ASEAN member countries, a European Commission delegation, and experts from both regions took part in the workshop.
For information, see:
http://www.aseansec.org/apris2/ac_com5.htm

Global Energy Fulcrum: Asian Development and International Response
Date: November 30–December 5, 2008
Location: Salzburg, Austria
Organizers/Supporters:Salzburg Global Seminar
This session examined the implications of Asian development on the global energy equation and looked specifically at the tensions between production and consumption-based economies.
For information, see:
http://www.salzburgseminar.org/2009/sessions.cfm?IDSpecial_Event=1569

December

30th CSCAP Steering Committee Meeting
Date: December 1–2, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
The CSCAP Steering Committee, which is always co-chaired by an ASEAN member country representative and a non-ASEAN member country representative, met for its biannual meeting in order to review the progress of the CSCAP working groups and determine the CSCAP work plan for the coming year. CSCAP provides an informal mechanism for experts, academics, and officials in their private capacities to discuss political and security issues and challenges facing the region and to provide policy recommendations to various inter-governmental bodies.
For information, see:
http://www.cscap.org

36th Meeting of the APEC Energy Working Group
Date: December 1–5, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:APEC
APEC country representatives heard reports from the APEC secretariat and chair of the Energy Business Network, as well as a progress report on the SOM steering committee on ECOTECH independent assessment of the energy working group. Participants also heard presentations from the Energy Charter Secretariat as well as the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership. In addition, representatives discussed the implementation of the APEC Energy Security Initiative, including both its short term and long term measures.
For information, see:
http://www.ewg.apec.org/index.cfm?event=object.showContent&objectID=19D84840-E6FC-5FF7-71D25509F8600245

3rd ASEAN GO-NGO Forum
Date: December 2, 2008
Location: Manila, Philippines
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN
Representatives from ASEAN government organizations (GOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) gathered in Hanoi for the third ASEAN GO-NGO Forum to share experiences in social welfare and make recommendations to their government leaders. Leading up to and during this forum there was strong collaboration between the country governments, national councils, and other participating NGOs. At the forum, a series of presentations and discussions were held in the areas of social protection, trafficking in persons, and adaptation to climate change. The forum adopted a set of recommendations, including prescriptions for the organization of the ASEAN GO-NGO Forum on Social Welfare and Development, acknowledgement of the strategic role of the GO-NGO forum in building a people-centered ASEAN, and recommendations to allow future forums to provide expanded opportunities for dialogue between GOs and NGOs on key regional social welfare and development issues. Members agreed that participation of the NGOs in the forum should be expanded and not limited only to the ICSW's national councils.
For information, see:
http://www.aseansec.org/12-2008.htm
http://www.dniks.org/newsletter/SOMSWD%20Report%20Manila%20Dec%2008.pdf

6th East Asia Congress
Date: December 3–6, 2008
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Organizers/Supporters:The Network of East Asian Think-tanks; Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia
The sixth congress focused on the theme of "Increasing Regional Resilience Amidst Rising Risks." Session topics included "Are Regional Cooperation Mechanisms Sufficient to Handle Economic Crises?" and "The US Presidential Elections: What Happened? Why and What Implications for East Asia?" Additionally, the participants discussed the ability of regional cooperation mechanisms to address economic crises, the political stability of East Asian countries amidst rising risks, the role of the internet and new media in empowering regional communities, and strengthening East Asia's regional and extra-regional relations.
For information, see:
http://www.isis.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=513:my-event1&catid=45:events&Itemid=39

Governance of a Globalising World: Whither Asia and the West?
Date: December 3–6, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:National University of Singapore, Centre on Asia and Globalisation
The center's S.T. Lee Project on Global Governance launched its inaugural conference on the topic "The Governance of a Globalising World: Whither Asia and the West?" This conference is part of the three-year project's goal of developing new approaches to governance in a world that includes a rising Asia. At the conference, participants, who ranged from prominent professors, heads of think tanks, and high-ranking policymakers, debated on issues such as the changing nature of sovereignty and world order. They shared perspectives on global governance, and examined the effectiveness and legitimacy of the multitude of actors and mechanisms involved in managing the world's most pressing global issues.
For information, see:
http://www.lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/cag/2008_Conf_Program.aspx

6th CSCAP Biannual General Conference
Date: December 7–8, 2008
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
With "Great Power Relations and Regional Community Building in East Asia" as the theme, the conference lasted two days, with the first day devoted to broadening understanding of the strategic and macroeconomic relationship between China, Japan, and the United States, gauging their respective views regarding of one another's roles and intentions in the region, and then exploring how to build a sustainable regional order. Against the backdrop of this broader power architecture, day two of the conference was intended to address specific issues and threats regarding peace and security in the region, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, peacekeeping and peace building, maritime security in the Malacca Straits, terrorism, and the security implications of climate change. Over 300 participants attended, including scholars, journalists, activists, and government officials. In addition, a large number of the participants included university students and young scholars.
For information, see:
http://www.cscap.org/uploads/docs/General%20Conf%20Reports/6thGenConfRpt2007.pdf

ASEM Workshop on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for Development
Date: December 8–9, 2008
Location: Vientiane, Lao PDR
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN
The workshop built on the conclusions and recommendations of the ASEM ICT Ministerial Meeting held in Hanoi in November 2006, which, among other things, acknowledged "the different levels of ICT development among ASEM members, particularly the digital divide between developed and developing countries." The workshop offered a platform for senior government officials from ASEM countries as well as representatives from international organizations to share best practices and knowledge from national and regional ICT development programs with the goal of offering practical solutions to bridge the digital divide. It also explored Euro-Asia cooperation opportunities in that field, drawing on successful models such as the Trans-Eurasia Information Network. In addition, the commencement of a new phase, TEIN3, was announced at this occasion. The workshop participants also exchanged views on ways to improve ICT policy and regulatory environment.
For information, see:
http://www.tein2.net/server/show/ConWebDoc.2883

4th Asia Economic Summit
Date: December 8–9, 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Organizers/Supporters:Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute
Bringing together leading strategic thinkers, government officials, and business leaders from the region, the summit examined the strategic economic challenges faced by Asia and the prospects going forward. Panel sessions included topics on the role of government in enhancing competitiveness and the business environment, the Asia economic outlook and coping with the global financial crisis, private equity in Asia and how resources can be better utilized, climate change and the environment, how businesses can go green, and the sustainability of Asia's property market.
For information, see:
http://www.asli.com.my/cgi-bin/prevdetails.cfm?type=conference&id=199

2nd Asia-Europe Economic Forum (AEEF) Conference-The Global Financial Crisis: Policy Choices in Asia and Europe
Date: December 8–10, 2008
Location: Beijing, China
Organizers/Supporters:Asia Europe Economic Forum
More than 20 high-ranking scholars and experts, senior policymakers, and business executives from East Asia and Europe gathered to exchange views about the causes of the financial crisis, its current and future consequences in the different national economies, and necessary actions at the global, regional, and national levels. Like the previous AEEF in 2006, it provided Asian and European policy experts and practitioners with an opportunity for in-depth, research-based exchanges on global issues of mutual interest.
For information, see:
http://www.bruegel.org/fileadmin/files/admin/research_initiatives/asia_europe_economic_forum/AEEF_December_2008/AEEF_170209_Summary_FINAL.pdf

ARTNeT-PEP Policy Forum on Trade, Investment and Domestic Policy Coherence for Inclusive Growth
Date: December 9, 2008
Location: Manila, Phillippines
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
Trade and economic experts from Southeast Asia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and other countries gathered at the meeting to discuss domestic policies in relation to trade, investment, and growth. The meeting focused on topics such as mechanisms for more inclusive policy making, inclusive growth and poverty dynamics, and reducing regional disparities through regional integration.
For information, see:
http://www.pep-net.org/events/events-pages/artnet-pep-policy-forum-on-trade-investment-and-domestic-policy-coherence-for-inclusive-growth/

High-level Regional Policy Dialogue on "The Food-fuel Crisis and Climate Change: Reshaping the Development Agenda"
Date: December 9–10, 2008
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
The high-level policy dialogue was held to address the food and fuel crises and the issue of climate change in a comprehensive and integrated manner. The main objective of the dialogue was to find strategies to address the impact of these crises and to prevent them from becoming a development emergency. The dialogue was attended by more than 100 policymakers, economists, climate change specialists, food and energy security experts, agricultural innovators, private sector entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from the Asia-Pacific region to discuss the core issues-impact of the convergence of the crises, the financial crisis and regional impacts, food security and sustainable agriculture, and energy security-and come up with an outcome document with actionable recommendations.
For information, see:
http://www.unescap.org/LDCCU/Meetings/HighLevel-RPD-food-fuel-crisis/BaliOutcomeDocument.pdf

Global Development Learning Network Seminar on Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - Session 1: Lessons Learned and Knowledge Sharing Seminar on Post-disaster Recovery Planning
Date: December 11, 2008
Location: Online
Organizers/Supporters:World Bank
As part of the World Bank's EAP Sector Management Unit Initiatives, a program promoting outreach and knowledge-sharing, an online seminar series was organized for officials in regional governments and World Bank staff working in country offices. The first of three online seminars, conducted via video conference, focused on post-disaster recovery planning and lessons learned. Participants included central government officials; representatives from ministries of finance, planning, disaster recovery management, and public works; provincial and municipal governments who are in charge or and involved in the post-disaster recovery planning and implementation; and representatives from civil society and academia.
For information, see:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/0,,contentMDK:21994443~menuPK:208956~pagePK:64002643~piPK:64002619~theSitePK:226301,00.html#info

13th Talks on the Hill: Ethnicity, Race, and Politics
Date: December 11–12, 2008
Location: Singapore
Organizers/Supporters:Asia-Europe Foundation
These talks examined the challenges of ethnic relations and the impact of ethnic relations on national political and socio-economic situations, looking at relevant cases in Asia and Europe. Participants focused on cases where ethnic tensions are latent in society, in the sense that the tipping point for violent conflict has not been reached, and where governments have the timeliest and broadest cause for effective action.
For information, see:
http://www.asef.org/index.php?option=com_project&task=view&id=493

Meeting of Chairs of the Typhoon Committee Working Groups
Date: December 11–12, 2008
Location: Macao, China
Organizers/Supporters:UNESCAP
At a previous UNESCAP event, "Integrated Workshop on Coping with Climate Change," held in September 2008, the participants agreed to hold a small meeting of the chairs of working groups of the Typhoon Committee in order to discuss the formulation of new integrated projects on urban flood management and on coping with climate change, as well as other priority activities of the Typhoon Committee. Discussions were held with a view to formulate integrated projects involving the three working groups of the Typhoon Committee-Meteorology, Hydrology and Disaster Prevention and Preparedness.
For information, see:
http://www.typhooncommittee.org/41st/docs/Item%205.7/WRD-TC-41-5-7%20REPORT%20OF%20THE%20ACTIVITIES%20OF%20TCS.doc

Renewable Energy Asia 2008 and an International Conference & 4th SEE Forum Meeting
Date: December 11–13, 2008
Location: New Delhi, India
Organizers/Sponsors: ASEAN
The international conference gathered experts from around the world with the objectives of reviewing state of the art renewable energy technologies in the Asian region and discussing the mitigation of green house gas emission and global climatic change. Participants discussed recent advances in solar, biomass, biogas, wind, and other renewable energy technologies, the social and economical aspects of renewable energy, and the possibilities for mutual cooperation among Asian countries in the area of renewable energy. Parallel technical sessions included topics on the economic, social, and environmental aspects of renewal energy economics; biodiesel, bioethano, and solar thermal energy sources; renewable energy policy and education; advances in biomethanation technology; clean development mechanism and solar buildings; biomass gasification and other utilization; and solar photovoltaic, small hydro, and wind energy technologies.
For information, see: http://web.iitd.ac.in/~rea2008/

2008 ASEAN Business & Investment Summit: People to People-Commitment towards ASEAN Prosperity
Date: December 13–15, 2008
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers/Supporters:ASEAN Business Advisory Council
Organized annually to coincide with the ASEAN Summit, this summit functions as a networking platform for regional businesses, bringing together private and public sector organizations, government representatives, and members of the business community from within and outside ASEAN for intensive discussions. Over 1,000 delegates attended the three-day summit, which featured dialogues on sharing best practices to advance business in the ASEAN economic community. Sessions were organized on such topics as doing business the ASEAN way, ASEAN and the Asian economic century, EU-ASEAN relations in the new era, and the global financial crisis and ASEAN responses.
For information, see:
http://www.asean-bac.org
http://www.asean-bis.com/index.php

International Conference on Energy Security in the North Pacific
Date: December 14–17, 2008
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Organizers/Supporters:Korea Energy Economics Institute; East-West Center
Energy experts from governments, private companies, institutes, and universities across Northeast Asia, Russia, the United States, and Canada convened to define the key global and regional issues that affect energy security in the North Pacific region.
For information, see:
http://www.keei.re.kr/main.nsf/index_en.html?open&p=/web_keei/en_news.nsf/xmlmain/BE26E8EE03956EE949257640003C37C4&s=%3FOpenDocument

Promoting the Universality of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Annexed Protocols in South Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific islands
Date: December 17–18, 2008
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Organizers/Supporters:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
The regional seminar aimed to support the universality of the convention and its protocols by promoting accession to it by countries in the region that are not yet party to it. The seminar served as a forum for participants to exchange views on the benefits of adherence to the convention as well as the challenges of implementing its provisions. The seminar drew participants from throughout Southeast Asia and was the last of six regional seminars organized by UNODA and financed by the European Union as part of the implementation of the convention's Plan of Action to Promote the Universality of the CCW.
For information, see:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/dc3151.doc.htm

International Conference on Trans-boundary Air Pollution in North-East Asia
Date: December 17–19, 2008
Location: Moscow, Russia
Organizers/Supporters:North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC); Acid Deposition and Oxidant Research Center (ADORC)
The international conference was organized by NEASPEC and ADORC as part of the project on "Mitigation of Trans-boundary Pollution from Coal-fired Power Plants in Northeast Asia." The participants took part in sessions on the state of transboundary air pollution in Northeast Asia, specifically focusing on the impact from coal-fired power plants. The participants also discussed possible regional and bilateral actions to combat transboundary air pollution, including the East Asia acid deposition monitoring network, joint research projects on long-range transboundary air pollutants, and the potential of integrated assessment models.
For information, see:
http://www.neaspec.org/airpollution.asp

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