The 24th ASEAN Lecture was delivered by H.E. Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR on 7 December 2023 at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
The 22nd ASEAN Lecture was delivered by The Honourable Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs II, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Negara Brunei Darussalam.
The ASEAN Studies Centre at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore welcomed Hon. Enrique A. Manalo, Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines, to share his views on the highlights of the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017.
ASEAN LECTURE SERIES
About the Lecture
As one of ASEAN’s founding fathers, it was an honor for the Philippines to serve as Chair of ASEAN in 2017, a milestone year when the Association marked its 50th anniversary. With its theme of “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World” the Philippines aimed at championing positive change in the lives of ordinary ASEAN citizens within and outside the region, and promoting cooperation with and among neighbors and ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, through six thematic priorities that served as beacons throughout 2017. The Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN achieved a number of outcomes that gave flesh and substance to the country’s theme and thematic priorities and helped advance ASEAN community-building.
About the Speaker
His Excellency Enrique A. Manalo is Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines. In this capacity, he was the Philippines’ ASEAN SOM Leader when the country chaired ASEAN in 2017. Mr. Manalo is a distinguished career diplomat, having served in the Philippines’ missions in Geneva, New York, Brussels, and London. Prior to his appointment as Undersecretary, Mr. Manalo was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva from 2003 to 2007, then Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium (2010 to 2011) and later the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2016. He was the Philippines’ Sherpa for the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit, and co-led negotiations with the EU for the Philippines-EU Partnership Cooperation Agreement. Mr. Manalo earned his BA and MA degrees in Economics from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Registration
For registration, please fill in this form and email to ascevents@iseas.edu.sg by 12 January 2018.
ASEAN LECTURE SERIES
About the Lecture
At its mid-century mark, ASEAN finds itself in need of a dose of fresh ideas to rejuvenate the regional project and its economic rationale for regional stability. ASEAN’s trajectory inevitably finds an overlap with that of one of its founding members and a key proponent of regional responses to global challenges: Indonesia. Indonesia is – and has always been – a key node in ASEAN’s axis. But Indonesia’s commitment to, and efforts for, its ASEAN priorities has not lingered in discussions within or outside the country in recent years. This ASEAN Lecture will hear a perspective on some of Indonesia’s core rationale for its ASEAN engagement and on how Indonesia has responded to, and promoted changes in ASEAN, and worked within ASEAN to respond to regional and global changes.
About the Speaker
Dr Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, is currently an Asia Society Policy Institute Distinguished Fellow. Dr Natalegawa’s distinguished career in foreign affairs spans various appointments at home and abroad since 1986, including Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York, and Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Court of St. James and to Ireland. Dr Natalegawa earned his Doctor of Philosophy from The Australian National University, a Master of Philosophy from Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Foreign Policy has included Dr Natalegawa among its 2013 list of 500 most influential individuals.
Registration
To register, please complete the attached registration form and e-mail ascevents@iseas.edu.sg.
ASEAN LECTURE SERIES
About the Lecture
When the ASEAN Charter was signed on 20 November 2007, analysts and observers of ASEAN hailed it as the beginning of a new era in the history of the regional organization. For forty years, ASEAN had overcome one existential crisis after another. When the Cold War ended, ASEAN did not fade away as some had predicted. Instead, ASEAN welcomed its former adversaries into the family. In 2004, ASEAN decided that it needed a Charter in order to strengthen its institutions and the rule of law. In his lecture, Prof. Koh will give a brief history of the making of the Charter, explain why he considers the Charter as a revolutionary document, and review the various suggestions to amend the Charter.
About the Speaker
Tommy KOH is currently Ambassador-At-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Special Adviser to the Institute of Policy Studies; Rector of the Tembusu College and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Centre for International Law at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Law of NUS, Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador to the United States of America, High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to Mexico. As chairman of the High Level Task Force from August to November 2007, Prof. Koh succeeded in bringing the drafting process to a conclusion in time for the 13th ASEAN Summit. In recognition of his achievements in steering diplomatic negotiations on bilateral and multilateral platforms, Harvard University conferred on him the Great Negotiator Award in 2014.
Registration
For registration, please fill in this form and email to ascevents@iseas.edu.sg by 2 August 2017.
ASEAN LECTURE SERIES
About the Lecture
In 2017, Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, ASEAN its 50th anniversary, and the ASEAN-Canada Dialogue Partnership its 40th year. Its longstanding partnership with ASEAN has provided a solid anchor for Canada to sustain its footprint in the constantly changing architecture of Asia-Pacific. Going forward, questions remain about the future of ASEAN as well as the place of Canada not only in the world but also Asia. With Canada’s foreign policy being pulled in all vectors – the US at its south, Europe across the Atlantic and Asia on the other side of the Pacific – Canada will have to reassess what its priorities are as it reaches this important milestone. Ultimately, both ASEAN and Canada should see value in enhancing their partnership into the future as the world’s centre of gravity shifts decidedly towards Asia.
About the Speaker
Richard Stubbs is Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Political Science at McMaster University in Canada. He was Academic Adviser to the Canada-ASEAN Centre and has been a long-time observer of ASEAN affairs. He has published widely on security, regional political economy and region building in Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific regions. His books include Hearts and Minds in Guerrilla Warfare: The Malayan Emergency 1948-1960 (Oxford), Rethinking Asia’s Miracle Economy (Palgrave Macmillan). He has also co-edited three editions of Political Economy and the Changing Global Order with Geoffrey R.D. Underhill (Oxford) and Theorizing Southeast Asian Relations with Amitav Acharya (Routledge) and The Routledge Handbook of Asian Regionalism with Mark Beeson (Routledge).
Registration
For registration, please fill in this form and email to ascevents@iseas.edu.sg by 27 June 2017.
ASEAN LECTURE SERIES
About the Lecture
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has gained significant attention as a pathway for pan-Asian economic integration, especially in light of the uncertainties facing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). RCEP was initiated by ASEAN in late 2011 to bring together ASEAN member states and six of their Dialogue Partners – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea – in a collaborative framework towards a comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement that is both WTO-consistent and transparent. RCEP also aspires to improve on the existing ASEAN+1 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) while covering regular trade issues of goods, services, investment, intellectual property, competition policy, technical cooperation and dispute settlement mechanisms. The guiding principles of RCEP, as endorsed in 2012, take into consideration the different levels of development among the members, which raises concerns over the quality of the agreement when completed. Although negotiations were launched in May 2013, little of the discussions has found its way into the public domain. This lecture will discuss the progress and challenges in RCEP negotiations thus far, as well as providing some insights on the depth and expanse of the agreement and the anticipated date of concluding the negotiations.
About the Speaker
Mr. Iman Pambagyo is Director-General for International Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Republic of Indonesia. He has been Chairman of the Trade Negotiating Committee of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) since 2012 and Chief Negotiator for the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement since 2016. Prior to his appointment as Director-General, Mr Pambagyo was Special Staff to Minister on Priority Global Trade Policy, and served as Indonesian Ambassador to WTO from 2014 to 2015. Having worked on trade diplomacy and negotiations area, Mr Pambagyo was the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) Leader for Indonesia from 2007 to 2014 and Indonesia’s Chief Negotiator and Trade Representative at various bilateral and multilateral negotiations. Mr Pambagyo studied International Relations at University of Gadjah Mada, Jogjakarta and earned his Masters degree in International Politics from McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.
Registration
To register, please complete the attached registration form and e-mail it to ascevents@iseas.edu.sg by 21 March 2017.
ASEAN LECTURE SERIES
About the Lecture
The Philippines will officially assume the ASEAN Chairmanship on 1 January 2017. In that year, ASEAN will also celebrate its 50th anniversary – a milestone event reflecting its successes and achievements in the past five decades as well as to prepare itself for the new challenges ahead in the region. While the Philippines is fully committed to realizing a rules-based, people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN community, it intends to introduce important initiatives that will significantly advance ASEAN community-building, promote inclusive and innovation-led growth; highlight ASEAN’s resilience; advance maritime security and cooperation; contribute to regional peace, security and stability; and showcase ASEAN as a model of regionalism and a global player.
About the Speaker
His Excellency Enrique A. Manalo is Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines. In this capacity, he will be the Philippines’ ASEAN SOM Leader as the country chairs ASEAN in 2017. Mr. Manalo is a distinguished career diplomat, having served in the Philippines’ missions in Geneva, New York, Brussels, and London. Prior to his appointment as Undersecretary, Mr. Manalo was the ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2016. He was the Philippines’ Sherpa for the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit, and co-led negotiations with the EU for the Philippines-EU Partnership Cooperation Agreement. This will be the second time Mr. Manalo serves as the Philippines’ ASEAN SOM Leader, having previously done so the last time the Philippines chaired ASEAN in 2007. Mr. Manalo earned his BA and MA degrees in Economics from the University of the Philippines.
Registration
To register, please complete the attached registration form and e-mail ascevents@iseas.edu.sg.
ASEAN LECTURE SERIES
About the Lecture
In recognition of the importance of connectivity toward regional integration, ASEAN member states have thus adopted the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity in 2010, covering the three dimensions of physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity. ASEAN seeks to build on the achievements and progress made under the 2010 framework with the adoption of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 at the 28th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane on 6 September 2016. This lecture is one of the earliest public preview and discussions on the new blueprint which focuses on five strategic areas, namely sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence, and people mobility. The lecture will highlight the priority areas of the new blueprint, as well as provide an analysis of the state of connectivity of the preceding blueprint.
In recognition of the importance of connectivity toward regional integration, ASEAN member states have thus adopted the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity in 2010, covering the three dimensions of physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity. ASEAN seeks to build on the achievements and progress made under the 2010 framework with the adoption of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 at the 28th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane on 6 September 2016. This lecture is one of the earliest public preview and discussions on the new blueprint which focuses on five strategic areas, namely sustainable infrastructure, digital innovation, seamless logistics, regulatory excellence, and people mobility. The lecture will highlight the priority areas of the new blueprint, as well as provide an analysis of the state of connectivity of the preceding blueprint.
About the Speaker
Lim Chze Cheen is the Head of the ASEAN Connectivity Division under the Office of the Secretary-General at the ASEAN Secretariat. He coordinated the development of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 and its preceding document. Prior to assuming this position, he was the Assistant Director of the Strategic Planning and Coordination Division. He was earlier the Assistant Director for ASEAN Economic Community coordination and the Senior Officer handling Trade in Services. Before joining the ASEAN Secretariat in 2005, Mr. Lim was a Senior Research Officer at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), specialising in macroeconomics and industrial studies. Mr. Lim holds a BSc (Economics) from the University of London and Master in Economics from the University of Malaya.
Registration
To register, please fill in this form and email to ascevents@iseas.edu.sg by 14 September 2016.