Episodes
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China and India seem to be en route to a better, or less bad, relationship for the first time in years. Germany published its first 'Focus on India' policy paper, immediately followed by a visit of Chancellor Scholz to New Delhi.
The new EU Commission has specifically named India as an important part of its strategies.
Russia, just like India a founding member of BRICS and host of that forum's 2024 summit, has its own pressing reasons to maintain the historical ties with India.
And then there's the Quad, in which India cooperates ever closer with fellow democracies the United States, Australia, and Japan.
What is India making of this momentum? Will it stick to its policy of non-alignment, or is, despite all the approaches from all sides, nonetheless a tilt to the West visible?
On this episode, we discuss all this with Garima Mohan, Senior Fellow in the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund, where she leads the work on India and heads the India Trilateral Forum. Her research focuses on Europe-India ties, EU foreign policy in Asia, and security in the Indo-Pacific.
Garima is one of the speakers at our flagship STATE OF ASIA conference on November 7 in Zurich. Have a look at the full line-up and find information on how to get tickets on our website.
The evening before, on November 6, renowned historian and global thinker Adam Tooze delivers our State of Asia Address in Zurich. This is a public event, though registration to attend is crucial. More info here.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 7, episode 5 - Published: October 29, 2024
Host: Serena Jung, Program and Communications Director, Asia Society Switzerland
Editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
’The Weirdo’ is a podcast for people who live up to its name. It’s a very popular weekly Chinese-language show, where younger generation Chinese living both inside China and elsewhere come together to talk about topics ranging from international relations to personal relationships, from current events to the big issues of our time.
It’s, as the hosts say it, about ‘human survival in a complex and ever-changing world’.
On this episode, we speak with Qing Wang, one of the hosts of ’The Weirdo’, about not fitting in, the courage to say no, how Europe’s image has changed among people in China – and not for the better.
Qing Wang is one of the speakers at our flagship STATE OF ASIA conference on November 7 in Zurich. Have a look at the full line-up and find information on how to get tickets on our website.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 7, episode 4 - Published: October 15, 2024
Host, editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
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On October 20, 2024, Indonesia will inaugurate Prabowo Subianto as its new President. Ever since his election win back in February, world leaders have been courting Prabowo, meeting with him even before he has taken office. Prabowo seems to love presidenting around the world much more than current President Joko Widodo did during his ten years in office.
If all goes well, says Dewi Fortuna Anwar, our guest on this episode, Indonesia under Prabowo could claim a much more active role on the world stage to deal with global issues like climate change and energy security. But Prabowo is also known to be temperamental and at times unpredictable, finding particular joy in sneering at Europe.
Dewi Fortuna Anwar is one of the speakers at our flagship STATE OF ASIA conference on November 7 in Zurich. Have a look at the full line-up and find information on how to get tickets on our website.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 7, episode 3 - Published: October 1, 2024
Host, editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
Over the past year, U.S.-China relations have seen slight improvement, in part driven by the U.S. desire for stability leading up to the Presidential election. Regardless of whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump wins the election, the new President will have to make a crucial decision: maintain this fragile period of stability, or press forward with more competitive measures to push back against China's rise. The decision will hinge on a policy debate that balances the need to deter Chinese aggression with the importance of reassuring China about U.S. long-term intentions, particularly regarding sensitive issues like Taiwan.
Should the new U.S. administration double down on tougher deterrence, including military hard power and denying China access to advanced technology? Or should it instead seek reassurance, aiming to collaborate with China on global issues such as climate change?
Listen to an Oxford Debate co-organized by Asia Society Policy Institute and Asia Society Switzerland and held on September 17, 2024, on the motion “The next U.S. administration must reassure China, not just deter it”.
Presenting clear-cut, time-constrained, well-thought-out arguments are:
Yun Sun, Director of the China Program at the Stimson CenterRorry Daniels, Managing Director, Asia Society Policy InstituteJames Crabtree, TOY Senior Fellow at Asia Society Switzerland and at the Asia Society Policy InstituteJason Hsu, former Taiwanese Legislator and Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy SchoolLearn more about the speakers on the event's website and watch the video of the entire debate here.
Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all the debates here.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 7, Bonus Episode 1 - Published: September 18, 2024
Host, editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
With the U.S. heading to the polls in November, Asia, like the rest of the world, will be following the election outcome closely. While all U.S. elections are consequential for the world, this one seems especially so, with the two candidates charting divergent paths for U..S policy on issues such as global security, trade and climate change.
Hear from Asia Society’s global network of experts from Melbourne, Delhi, Hong Kong and Tokyo to explore how Asian countries perceive the U.S. role in Asia and what bearing the election will have on the region’s security and prosperity.
Recorded on September 11, 2024, at an event organized by the Asia Society Centers in Australia, India, Hong Kong, and Japan. Watch the full video here.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 7, episode 2 - Published: September 17, 2024
Host, editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
In 2024, over half the world’s population has been voting for new leaders – or will do so very soon.
In Asia, countries from Bangladesh to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia, end this year with other leaders than the one they started it with (though not all through general elections). So do the EU, the UK and, in January 2025, the U.S.
James Crabtree, TOY Senior Fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute and Asia Society Switzerland, joins us to dissect the impacts these leadership changes have on the geopolitical landscape.
James Crabtree is one of the speakers at our flagship STATE OF ASIA conference on November 7 in Zurich. Have a look at the full line-up and find information on how to get tickets on our website.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 7, episode 1 - Published: September 3, 2024
Host: Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society Switzerland
Editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
STATE OF ASIA, the podcast from Asia Society Switzerland, is back with engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
The new season premieres Tuesday, September 3. New episodes follow every other Tuesday.
Plus: look out for bonus episodes bringing you insights from some of the many events organized by Asia Society Switzerland.
Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-----
STATE OF ASIA is a podcast series from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 7 trailer - Published: August 27, 2024
Editor/Producer:
Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
Batteries increasingly power everything around us, all thanks to major innovations and a supply chain that spans the world. And that’s where things get complicated.
As battery costs sink and technology advances, nations increasingly view batteries as vital for national security, economic competitiveness, and to reach their climate goals.
We spoke with two experts on all things batteries and geopolitics: Marina Yue Zhang, Associate Professor at the Australia-China Relations Institute of the University of Technology Sydney; and Duo Fu, Vice President of the Clean Tech Division at Rystad Energy, a Norwegian energy intelligence firm.
The conversation is also available as a webcast here. More information on the speakers is on our website.
STATE OF ASIA is back with new episodes in September.
Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, Bonus episode 4 - Published: July 11, 2024
Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
As India’s economy continues to grow, can the world’s most populous country truly replicate China's success of the past decades? Should India even imitate China? Maybe not, says our guest on this episode, Alicia García Herrero, Hong Kong-based Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific at French investment bank Natixis, and Senior Fellow at European think tank Breugel.
Alicia discusses the key differences between the two countries, talks about if the world is even looking for a new China, and provides insights on what economic policies could drive India’s continued growth, especially as the country enters a second decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
This is the final episode of this season. Expect bonus episodes over the summer. We’re back with new episodes early September.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, episode 6 - Published: June 11, 2024
Host: Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society Switzerland
Editor/producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
As tensions simmer in its immediate environment, Japan is on high alert. In the midst of China's "sustained aggressiveness," Japan is revising its defense and security policies.
But how does this align with its pacifist constitution, and is there still room for engagement with China? Hear from Yuki Tatsumi, Senior Fellow, Co-Director of the East Asia Program, and Director of the Japan Program at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC.
Yuki sheds light on Japan's historical approach to China, the current state of their bilateral relations, and the delicate balance between deterrence and engagement.
We also discuss the implications of Japan's changing security policies on its relationship with other regional players, including South Korea and India and we explore the sentiment of the Japanese public towards these shifts.
Want more insights on Japan’s foreign policy? Watch Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator at the Financial Times in conversation with Jesper Koll at Asia Society Japan in this video.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, episode 5 - Published: May 28, 2024
Host/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
China’s leader Xi Jinping raised his country’s relationship with EU and NATO member Hungary to a level that puts Hungary almost as close to Beijing’s chest as Russia and North Korea are.
Western Europe long regarded the ’new’ EU member states in the East as Trojan horses. But views on, and relations with, China have grown very diverse in Central and Eastern Europe. Especially in the Baltics, the Czech Republic and, increasingly, Poland, China is looked at with suspicion, given its support of Russia’s war in Ukraine and Beijing's failed attempt over the past decade to reel them in through the now defunct 17+1 grouping.
A week after Xi’s visit to Hungary, Serbia, and France, and ahead of June’s European Parliament elections, we speak with Alicja Bachulska, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations on how the experiences Central and Eastern European countries have dealing with China can contribute to a stronger European China policy.
Alicja co-authored The Missing Pieces? How CEE Can Contribute To A Stronger European Approach To China, a research paper published in April 2024. The full report is available on the website of CHOICE, China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe.
Also in April, the Asia Society Policy Institute published a report on the experience Lithuania had dealing with economic coercion coming from China. That’s available here.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, episode 4 - Published: May 14, 2024
Host/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
Indira Ranamagar is Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nepal since January 2023. She started her career as a primary science and maths teacher in village schools in the southeast of Nepal, and became a social worker in prisons in 1990. For well over 30 years now, she has been a prolific human rights and social worker. In 2000, she founded the NGO Prisoner’s Assistance Nepal, which looks after prisoners' welfare and works to give children whose parents are imprisoned an education and a roof over their heads.
In 2022, she was elected to Nepal’s House of Representatives on behalf of a brand-new political party, taking her social work from the streets to parliament.
In 2007, Indira was named an Asia 21 Young Leader by the global network of Asia Society, while in 2009 her NGO PA Nepal received the Asia Society Asia 21 Public Service Award. In 2017, she was the first Nepali to feature on the BBC’s list of the 100 most influential women in the world.
For more on Nepal, watch this episode of our popular series A Closer Look: a quick but deep dive into the Himalayan nation with Nepalese investor Suman Joshi, recorded in March, 2023.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, episode 3 - Published: April 29, 2024
Host/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
Nalin Mehta is a political scientist and journalist in Delhi, India, and author of The New BJP, a work you can only call THE book on the BJP, the largest political party in the world.
Under the leadership of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has solidified its position as the uncontested center of power in the world's most populous country.
As India heads to the polls over a 6-week period beginning April 19, we talk with Nalin about how the BJP built and expanded its power base, and what Modi, who is all but certain to once again win the elections, could set as priorities upon starting his second decade as Prime Minister.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, episode 2 - Published: April 16, 2024
Host: Nico Luchsinger, Executive Director, Asia Society Switzerland
Editor/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
There is little to dispute about Asia's rise as a key feature of our time. Already the world's most populous region, Asian countries have steadily gained in economic and political influence on the world stage in recent decades. While in the past this development has been driven heavily by China, the next few years will see countries like India, Indonesia, and Vietnam expand their international clout.
As the balance of power shifts east, will the world order inevitably change? Asia is far from a monolithic actor, and for all the talk about an "Asian Century", there is arguably no coherent vision from Asia on how the global community should operate. And many countries, especially China, have benefitted from the current system, and might seek to adjust rather than replace it.
In this bonus episode of STATE OF ASIA, listen to four experts taking sides over the motion "Asia’s Rise Will Lead to a New World Order", as they did in an Oxford Debate in front of a live audience in Zurich on April 8, 2024.Presenting clear-cut, time-constrained, well-thought-out arguments are:
John Delury, a historian and a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul.Abigaël Vasselier, director for Policy and European Affairs and head of the Foreign Relations team at MERICS in Berlin.Julia Ganter, Programme Director International Affairs at the German foundation Körber-Stiftung and head of the Körber Emerging Middle Powers Initiative, based in Berlin.John Lee, director of consultancy East West Futures and a researcher at the Leiden Asia Centre.Watch the entire debate on the Asia Society YouTube channel, and learn more about the speakers on our website.
Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all editions here.
Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, bonus episode 3 - Published: April 9, 2024
Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
Johan Nylander is an award-winning author and freelance China and Asia correspondent. His work is published by CNN, Forbes, Sweden’s leading business daily Dagens Industri, and many other international media outlets.
His most recent book is The Wolf Economy Awakens – Mongolia’s Fight for Democracy, and a Green and Digital Future (Hong Kong University Press, 2023). It's full of original reporting and great conversations with Mongolians, from angry elderly people in the street and the lead singer of internationally successful Mongolian band The HU to the country's Prime Minister.
In this episode, we talk about how Mongolia is gearing up to be Asia's next economic miracle. And it's not just because of mining: the country has a vibrant tech start-up scene and is making strides in the energy transition.
All the while, this vibrant democracy of 3.3 million people, wedged between authoritarian giants China and Russia, manages to stay friendly with almost any country it interacts with.
Check out the music from The HU here, and watch here how Mongolia's largest restaurant, at the Oyu Tolgoy mine in the Gobi desert, feeds over 6,000 miners every day.
More on the upcoming Oxford Debate LIVE on the motion 'Asia's rise will lead to a new world order', taking place on April 8, 2024, in Zurich, is on our website.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, episode 1 - Published: March 26, 2024
Host/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
STATE OF ASIA, the podcast from Asia Society Switzerland, is back with engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
The new season premieres Tuesday, March 26, with a conversation with Hong Kong-based journalist and author Johan Nylander, whose latest book is a deep dive on one of Asia's largest but, for now, most unknown nations: Mongolia. New episodes follow every other Tuesday.
Plus: look out for special episodes bringing you insights from some of the many events organized by Asia Society Switzerland.
Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.-----
STATE OF ASIA is a podcast series from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6 trailer - Published: March 19, 2024
Editor/Producer:
Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
A Closer Look is our popular series taking quick but deep dives into countries and issues that matter, with webcasts, podcasts, and in-person events.
This episode is part of A Closer Look: Indonesia After Jokowi, looking at what's next for the Southeast Asian giant now that the hugely popular President Joko Widodo is preparing to hand over to former general Prabowo Subianto, the winner of the February 14 elections.
Talking about Jokowi's legacy from a ground-level perspective are Nimas Mega Purnamasari, who runs the Bali campus of the national United in Diversity organization; and Yoes Kenawas, a research fellow at Atma Jaya Catholic University who is an expert on political dynasties in Indonesia, and a strong believer in the role of comedy in building a mature democracy.
More on A Closer Look: Indonesia After Jokowi, including the webcast is here.
Check out the trailer for hit drama series Cigarette Girl, and the music of Nadif Basalamah. And more of Indonesian stand-up comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono is here.
Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, Bonus episode 2 - Published: February 20, 2024
Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
For decades, Taiwan has existed in a fragile balance, neither truly independent nor unified with mainland China. While this status quo has proven surprisingly enduring, China's continued economic and military rise and its government’s increasing nationalistic rhetoric have raised fears of a conflict around the island – accidental or intentional.
What's the best approach to prevent further or more intense aggressive actions from China against Taiwan? Build up strong military deterrence, or go the way of diplomatic engagement?In this bonus episode of STATE OF ASIA, listen to four experts debate this complicated issue.
Simona Grano, TOY Senior Fellow on Taiwan at Asia Society’s Center for China Analysis, and Associate Professor and Director of the Taiwan Studies Project at the University of Zurich, SwitzerlandJames Lee, Professor at the Institute of European and American Studies at Academia Sinica, the national academy of TaiwanAmanda Hsiao, Senior Analyst for China at the International Crisis GroupYu-Hua Chen, Assistant Professor in the Global Studies Program at Akita International University (AIU) in Japan
The debaters, who presented clear-cut, time-constrained arguments in an Oxford Debate we hosted on January 23, 2024, are:Watch the entire debate here, and learn more about the speakers on our website.
Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all the debates here.
Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 6, bonus episode 1 - Published: January 25, 2024
Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
Two terrific knowers of China talk about the prospects for the struggling Chinese economy and the question that's on the mind of foreign companies in the country: stay, or go?
Listen to Keyu Jin, well-connected professor at the London School of Economics and author of 2023's The New China Playbook; and Jörg Wuttke, President Emeritus of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. They spoke on stage at the STATE OF ASIA conference, Asia Society Switzerland's flagship event, held on November 23, 2023, in Zurich.
The conversation was moderated by Martina Fuchs. Watch the full video here. All videos and written key takeaways from the entire 2023 STATE OF ASIA conference are available on our site.
Stay up-to-date on all our activities: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 5, bonus episode 3 - Published: January 4, 2024
Host and Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland -
On November 21, 2023, Singaporean diplomatic legend Bilahari Kausikan delivered Asia Society Switzerland's second annual State of Asia Address in front of a full house in the prestigious Aula of the University of Zurich.
He set himself up to answer the question: Will this – can this – be the ‘Asian century’, in a highly original speech filled with fundamental insights in the big issues facing Asia and the world.
Bilahari is former Ambassador and Permanent Secretary of Singapore. He has spent his entire career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.During his 37 years in the Ministry, he served in a variety of appointments at home and abroad, including as Ambassador to the Russian Federation and to the UN in New York. Among others, he is a Member of the Advisory Council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). He studied at Raffles Institution, the University of Singapore and Columbia University in New York.
The full text of his speech is available as a download on our website. A video of Bilahari delivering the State of Asia Address is here.
STATE OF ASIA brings you engaging conversations with leading minds on the issues that shape Asia and affect us all.
Stay up-to-date on all events and activities at Asia Society Switzerland: subscribe to the newsletter and support our work by becoming a member. We'll be back with a new season of the podcast in early 2024.
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STATE OF ASIA is a podcast from Asia Society Switzerland.
Season 5, episode 6 - Published: November 23, 2023
Host/Editor: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland - Show more
