Hanoi Conference:“Symbolic of Changed Relationship”

“Your burdens are heavy;

your accomplishments are

great, and the opportunities

greater still. Let us today,

and every day, rededicate

ourselves to making a

difference for our region

and the world by

converting challenges

into opportunities.”

EWC PRESIDENT

CHARLES E. MORRISON

The East-West Center’s largest alumnigathering outside of Hawai‘i took placein Hanoi in December 2006. Morethan 550 alumni from 36 countriesconvened in Vietnam to address thechallenges of “Building an Asia PacificCommunity for SustainableDevelopment.” Panel presentationsfocused on more than 40 topicsranging from Disaster Managementand Prevention to Poverty Reductionand Sustainable Economic Growth,from Emerging Infectious Diseases toVietnam-U.S. relations.

Reflecting on the changes in theregion, EWC President Charles E.Morrision stated in his keynote address,“The Asia Pacific region, in contrast toother parts of the developing world, hasmade truly great strides, undergoing arate of development and change that istotally unprecedented in world history.”He further stated that Hanoi’s selectionas the venue for the gathering was“symbolic of the changed relationshipbetween Vietnam and the UnitedStates” from warring enemies topartners in a dynamic and changingregion.

Acknowledging the vital roleEWC alumni play, President Morrisonsaid, “You are among the scarceleadership resources of the Asia Pacific,individuals who can think and act withthe best interest of the region at heart… Your burdens are heavy; youraccomplishments are great, and theopportunities greater still. Let us today,and every day, rededicate ourselves tomaking a difference for our region andthe world by converting challengesinto opportunities.”

EWC Association President LarryFoster noted, “While the worldchanges around us, the mission — thecore values of the East-West Center —has remained constant since itsfounding nearly 50 years ago inHawai‘i: community building, mutualunderstanding, tolerance and civility.

Current Asia Pacific LeadershipProgram (APLP) students and alumnialso attended the conference and ledseven different panel sessions. On theparticipation of the APLP, EWCAlumni Officer Gordon Ring said,“It is important for our alumni toconnect with current students at theCenter. This coming together of thegenerations reignites the EWC spiritamongst the alumni, reinforces the ties

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EWC President Charles E. Morrisonaddresses the conference participants.

EWC alumna Madame Ton Nu ThiNinh, vice chair of the Vietnam NationalAssembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee wasa featured speaker at the conference.

Conference co-chair Thanh Lo Le-KhacSananikone and EWC Board of GovernorsChairman Roland Lagareta

in the network, and paves the way forfuture collaborative efforts.”

Ring added, “We have demonstratedthat there is no other organization inthe region that can match EWCA’sbreadth, depth, scope and multi-national participation.” The EWCAssociation (EWCA) is a globalnetwork of 47 chapters and more than50,000 government, business, NGO,and education professionals who haveparticipated in EWC programs overthe years.

Key Vietnamese governmentofficials, including Deputy PrimeMinister Pham Gia Khiem, ViceForeign Minister Le Van Bang andEWC alumna Madame Ton Nu ThiNinh, vice chair of the NationalAssembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee

also addressed conference-goers. At theclosing dinner, the EWC honored the2006 Distinguished Alumni,Outstanding Volunteers, andOutstanding Alumni Chapters (see page41 for a list of awardees) along with theChapter Award of Merit recipients.

Co-chairs Thanh Lo Le-KhacSananikone of Hawai‘i (an EWCalumna originally from Vietnam) andEWCA Hanoi Chapter Leader HoangHoe were instrumental in organizingthe conference, and the VietnamUnion of Science and TechnologyAssociations (VUSTA) worked incooperation with the EWC alumnioffice and Hanoi chapter onconference logistics. Conferencesponsors included the FordFoundation; PacMar, Inc.; Sovico

Group; Gary and Bach Mai Larsen;DACO Duyen Trading & Tour ServiceCo., Ltd; Indochina Capital; theForeign Trade University; FEDEX;Gannon Corporation; and the U.S.Embassy in Hanoi.

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EWC Alumni Chapter Leaders, EWC Board of Governor members, and other conference participants attended a reception hosted byU.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine (front row, 4th from left) at his residence.

EWCA President Larry Foster (left) andEWCA Chairman Kok Kian Poh

EWC Alumni Officer Gordon Ring andconference Co-chair and Hanoi AlumniChapter Leader Hoang Hoe

Asia Pacific Leadership Program fellows led several panel presentations at the conference.

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EWC Students in the FieldHaving an Impact

East-West Center students

are making a difference!

While pursuing their

studies, they have engaged

in research, internships

and service projects in the

field. These featured

student fellows reflect the

diverse range of EWC

educational

programs and

scholarships.

Taking the

Center’s mission

to heart, they are

actively building an

Asia Pacific Community.

EAST-WEST CENTER GRADUATE DEGREE FELLOWS

Elizabeth Cedar LouisPh.D. student in Geography from the U.S. with Indian roots

Venturing into the foothills of the Himalayas, Louis sought solutions to thechallenges of India’s rural farmers. Advocating for traditional sustainableagriculture, she calls for governmental policy change to improvesocioeconomic equity, environmental health, and economic profitability.

San Tun AungPh.D. student in Sociologyfrom BurmaIn collaboration with theRed Cross Society, Aung isworking to improve HIVprevention strategies forBurmese youth.

Caleb O’KrayPh.D. student in Natural Resources andEnvironmental Management from the United StatesBridging the worlds of energy and agriculture,O’Kray’s research with the U.S. Department ofAgriculture in Beijing explored the development ofbiofuels in China. He recounted, “I visited an ethanolproduction site in Jilin and met with governmentofficials, academics, and industry representatives.This was an unforgettable experience!”

Wilmar SalimPh.D. student in Urban and Regional Planning from IndonesiaWithin the earthquake-devastated Bantul District of Indonesia, Salim focused onthe lives of those most in need. Connecting with destitute villagers, he assessedthe progress made by the local government’s poverty reduction initiatives.

Louis (right) in the field with traditional farmers.

San Tun Aung, accompanied by a Myanmar RedCross Society representative (seated left), explains hisresearch survey objectives to Burmese youth.

Wilmar Saliminterviews avillage womanbeside theremains of herhome.

O’Kray presenting hisresearch findings.

U.S.-SOUTH PACIFIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FELLOWS

Tony Vaefanga Tuli SiamomuaM.P.A. student (Public Administration)from SamoaOn Capitol Hill, Siamomua reported onhearings and NGO briefings as arepresentative of the United NationsDevelopment Program (UNDP). Focusingon child labor and poverty alleviationissues, he reflected, “This experience hasmade me realize that my life’s calling is ininternational development.”

Solomon KanthaM.A. in Political Sciencefrom Papua New GuineaDrawing leaders together fromthroughout the South Pacific,Kantha helped coordinate anambassadorial conference for theUnited States Asia Pacific Councilin Washington, D.C.

U.S.-EAST TIMOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FELLOW

Francisca MaiaB.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies(Academy of Creative Media program)from East TimorAfter interning at a production studio that createsdocumentaries for the Discovery Channel, Maia wenton to produce an award-winning documentary on the turbulentsituation in her home country of East Timor.

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ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANKFELLOW

Nazgul ShabdanbekovaM.P.A. student (Public Administration)from KyrgyzstanAs an office representative ofKyrgyzstan’s Prime-Minister,Shabdanbekova worked to augmentthe economic conditions of hercountry byassisting withthe CountryDevelopmentStrategy programand serving asa liaison tocapital marketrepresentatives.

EAST-WEST CENTERGRADUATE DEGREE FELLOW,EWCA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT,AND PREVIOUSFORD FOUNDATIONINTERNATIONAL FELLOW

Qiong JiaPh.D. student in Comparativeand International Educationfrom China(Tujia ethnic minority group)Qiong paved the way for women inChina as the youngest and one the fewfemale deans in the country. Applyingher research, shestrives to improvethe Chineseeducationalsystem focusingon equality,sustainability, andthe elimination ofpoverty.

ASIA PACIFIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FELLOW

Karin EkdahlAPLP fellow from SwedenMobilizing Sri Lankan communities to navigate change, Ekdahl’s passion forcommunity development motivated her to raise funds and coordinate theimprovement of two child development centers. She expressed, “It was inspiringto see the community realize their ability to bring about change through theirown initiatives.”

Siamomua with a UNDP staff memberat their Washington headquarters.

Kantha (left) with Papua New Guinea’sambassador to the U.S., Evan Paki.

(L to R) Siamomua, Kantha, and Maia at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Five years after opening its doors,East-West Center Washington hasdistinguished itself in carrying out theCenter’s mission in the nation’s capital.Under the leadership of MuthiahAlagappa, East-West CenterWashington was established inSeptember 2001 to bring the results ofthe Center’s research, educational, andseminar activity to Washington.

The office has been instrumentalin generating discussion on key issuesand problems in U.S.-Asia Pacificrelations as well as disseminating newresearch to policymakers and theirstaff. In five short years East-WestCenter Washington has established thepopular Congressional Study Groupson Asian Security, the Asia PacificEconomy, the Pacific Islands, andcountry-specific areas such as Japan; aprolific publication program, and tworesearch projects on conflict reductionand nuclear weapons and security in21st century Asia.

RESEARCH WITH IMPACT

Research conducted by EWC Washingtonis policy-relevant. The “Dynamics andManagement of Internal Conflicts inAsia,” a multi-year project funded bythe Carnegie Corporation of New Yorkinvestigates the domestic, transnational,and international dynamics of internalconflicts in Sri Lanka, Burma, southernThailand, Nepal, and northeastern Indiaand explores ways to manage the conflictsand bring about peaceful settlement.

“Nuclear Weapons and Security in21st Century Asia” is a six-year projectfunded by the Japan FoundationCenter for Global Partnership thatinitiates a comprehensive andsystematic study of the nuclearsituation in Asia through research,publications, and training.

PUBLICATIONS THAT INFORM

East-West Center Washingtonpublications are peer-reviewed andreflect rigorous scholarship. “Studies inAsian Security” book series promotesanalysis, understanding, and explanationof the dynamics of domestic,transnational, and international securitychallenges in Asia. This series ispublished by Stanford University Press.

The “Policy Studies” seriespresents analysis of key contemporarydomestic and international political,economic, and strategic issues affectingAsia. This series provides new policyinsights and perspectives based onextensive fieldwork andscholarship.

ACTIVE DIALOGUE

East-West Center Washington alsoorganizes dynamic forums that engageparticipants in lively discussion anddebate.

The Congressional Study Groupsprovide forums on key issues of concernto members of the U.S. Congress andtheir staff. These have included studygroups on Asian Security, the Asia PacificEconomy, the Pacific Islands, andcountry-specific areas such as Japan.

Experts from government, think-tanks, and academic communities alsoparticipate in the Asian Policy Forum;the Asia Scholars Forum; the AsianSecurity Forum; the Democracy and

Human Rights Seminars;and the United StatesAsia Pacific Council.

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East-West Center WashingtonCelebrating Five Years

East-West Center Washington Director Muthiah Alagappa (left) with then-AssistantSecretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James A. Kelly (center) and Hawai‘iLieutenant Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona in Washington.

EAST-WEST CENTER WASHINGTONACTIVITIES:

■ Conducts collaborative research on keydomestic and international political andsecurity issues and problems in andaffecting the Asia Pacific.

■ Facilitates study groups to inform andstimulate discussion of vital issues in U.S.Asia relations.

■ Hosts visiting fellows from Asia Pacificcountries and the United States.

■ Convenes forums for the presentationof alternative viewpoints on significantissues in U.S.-Asia Pacific relations.

■ Features a strong publications program oncontemporary issues of regional significance.

THE UNITED STATESASIA PACIFIC COUNCIL

In 2003, with the support of the U.S.Department of State, the United StatesAsia Pacific Council (USAPC) waslaunched by the East-West Center.Under the leadership of USAPCDirector Mark Borthwick; chairStapleton Roy, former U.S. ambassadorto China and Indonesia; and honorarychair former U.S. Secretary of StateGeorge Shultz, the USAPC bringstogether key individuals involved inU.S.-Asia Pacific relations as a forumto inform and enhance U.S.

engagement with the region. Membersparticipate in the Council as privatecitizens who advise, promote, andfacilitate the work of official and privateinstitutions in the Asia Pacific region.Among the institutions that USAPCsupports are the regional organizationsof the Pacific Basin Economic Council(PBEC) and the Pacific EconomicCooperation Council (PECC) whoseU.S. representation has been consolidatedunder the auspices of USAPC.

During its inaugural meeting,

then-U.S. Secretary of State

Colin Powell noted,

“It is a testament to the

importance of the council’s

mission that it has been able

to assemble such a stellar

group of leaders from

industry, academia, the

media, and government.”

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USAPC conference participants (L-R, toprow): a) Amb. Sandra J. Kristoff, formersenior director, Asian Affairs, NationalSecurity Council; b) Amb. Soogil Young,chairman, Korea National Committee forPacific Economic Cooperation; c) Amb.Robert B. Zoellick, former U.S. Deputy Secretary ofState. (bottom row): d) Amb. J. Stapleton Roy, USAPC chairman; then-U.S. Rep.James T. Kolbe (R-AZ); and the Hon. Patricia F. Saiki, member of the EWC Board ofGovernors and former congresswoman (R-HI); e) Amb. Thomas S. Foley, chairman,Trilateral Commission and former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

EWC’s Islam InitiativeFosters New Understanding

“East-West Center activities

have always included Muslims

and issues involving the

Muslim community.

However, in the aftermath

of September 11th, questions

about relations between

Muslims and the United States

(or the ‘Western world’) have

gained new prominence.”

RICHARD BAKERCOORDINATOR OF THE ASIAN MUSLIM INITIATIVE

AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE EWC PRESIDENT

In the aftermath of 9/11, the East-WestCenter undertook ways to search outanswers to the questions raised aboutrelations between Muslims around theworld and the United States. Thatsearch led to the establishment of theEWC’s Asian Muslim Initiative in thefall of 2003. The Initiative addressesthe misconceptions and misunder-standings that have arisen betweenAsia’s Islamic societies (home to morethan half the world’s Muslimpopulation) and the United States.Since its inception, the Initiative hasmet the challenge head-on in theCenter’s time-tested approach ofbringing people together in a neutralsetting to share views and exploreimportant and topical issues, with theobjective of building a base of longer-term relationships and understanding.

One of the most visible undertakingshas been the establishment of theSenior Journalists’ Seminar. Journalistsare chosen due to their role ascommunicators, a role that allowsthem to impact people far beyondtheir own numbers. Before taking partin the program, many of the Americanjournalists know little of the Islamicworld. What they do know is largelycolored by the images and storiescoming from the Middle East. The

Asian Islamic journalists tend to knowmore about the United States thantheir American counterparts do of theIslamic world, but here, too, prejudicesrun deep. The Asian journalists’perception and knowledge of the U.S.often fits neatly into stereotypes of anation leading an international crusadeagainst Islam.

But the program has demonstratedhow direct exposure can reorientperspectives and perceptions. Lastsummer seven journalists from AsianIslamic communities and six Americanjournalists took part in overlappingtwo-week study tours of American andAsia, respectively. The participantsfound the experience enlightening and,as a few characterized the trip, uplifting.

Many of the deeply engrainednegative stereotypes will take a longtime to be changed, if they ever are.But, by taking part in the Center’sAsian Muslim Initiative, participants docome away with a more sophisticatedunderstanding of the complexity of thecountries they visit. They also comeface-to-face with the reality that mostpeople, no matter where they live or

what their religion, sharesimilar values,interests andconcerns.

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David Crumm, Detroit Free Press’religion writer interviews Ameer Nizami,chief of Jamaat-e-Islami fundamentalistparty and former Bangladesh IndustriesMinister in Dhaka.

Teachers from Indonesia and Southern Thailand in AsiaPacificEd'sBest Practice Institute visit schools in the United States.

Professors and Muslim StudentAssociation advisors participate in anAsian Studies Development Programworkshop on Islam in Asia at TulsaCommunity College.

The EWC Education Programalso contributed to the diverse range ofprojects stemming from the Initiative.In 2006, AsiaPacificEd’s Partnership-for-Youth program sent 24 Americanhigh school students to predominatelyMuslim southern Thailand for athree-week home stay and study trip.Twenty-four Thai students from thesame area came to Honolulu later inthe year to experience first-hand life inAmerica and to discuss youthleadership issues across cultures. In thefall, a similar program was held thistime focusing on the teachers. TheBest Practice Institute broughttogether 22 teachers from Indonesiaand southern Thailand with theirAmerican counterparts to explorecross-cultural differences and bestteaching practices.

The Asian Studies DevelopmentProgram has also played an active rolein carrying out this Initiative. In 2006,they conducted the eleventh Islam inAsia workshop for U.S. college anduniversity educators, in an on-goingseries that highlights the vast diversityof Islamic cultures in Asia.

The Initiative ensures thatparticipants from Asian Islamic

communities also take part in otherEast-West Center programs such as theNew Generation and Women’sLeadership seminars, and the AsiaPacific Leadership Program. Thisensures greater input and representationof Islamic values and points of viewsare represented, and that the Islamicparticipants are presented with realitiesthat may run counter to many of thenegative stereotypes so prevalent intheir home communities.

Islamic scholars have also beenwelcomed to the EWC under theInitiative to pursue their research andto interact with interested colleagues atthe Center, the University of Hawai‘i,and the broader Hawai‘i community.

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EWC Media Programs Coordinator Susan Kreifels (top row, 2nd from right), Asian Muslim Initiative Coordinator Richard Baker(top row, left) and American journalists gather with students at Ma’had Al-Zaytun, the largest Islamic boarding school in Indonesia.

Timothy Connolly, international editor at the Dallas Morning News (right), meetingwith leaders of the Ahmediya community (minority Muslim sect) in Dhaka, Bangladeshas part of the 2006 EWC Senior Journalists Seminar.

One direct outcome of these visits is abetter understanding of the Islamiccommunities in the Asia Pacific regionand their interactions with othercommunities in the region as well asthe broader Western world. TheCenter’s ongoing involvement with theAr-Raniry State Institute of IslamicStudies (IAIN) in Banda Aceh,Indonesia is another example of theInitiative at work. After the December2004 tsunami destroyed the schooland took the lives of many staff andfaculty, the Center reached out toenable the Muslim students to completetheir college degrees in Jakarta. TheEWC and the IAIN also agreed todevelop further cooperative activities.