STATE OF ASIA 2023

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A Conference on the World's Most Dynamic Region

STATE OF ASIA

How to Participate?

You can buy a ticket to STATE OF ASIA by invitation only. Invitations are being sent out by Asia Society Switzerland. If you think your name should be on the invitation list, please let us know through this form. More information in the FAQ.

Invitation Request

Never has it been more important to understand Asia than today. As Asia's economic, political, and cultural influence continues to grow in an interconnected world, Asia Society Switzerland's flagship annual conference, STATE OF ASIA, offers an essential learning experience to understand the key developments in the region and their global implications.

STATE OF ASIA features a broad selection of leading experts from across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Their diverse perspectives and in-depth expertise foster dialogue and discussion, making STATE OF ASIA a premier platform for business leaders, government officials, NGO representatives and academics looking to expand their Asia Competence.

STATE OF ASIA is more than a conference – it's an immersive learning journey that will shape your view of Asia for the year to come and help you make sense of the news coming out of Asia, and how they relate to your work.

You can find all videos from last year's STATE OF ASIA here.

Confirmed Speakers

More speakers to be announced soon.

Bilahari Kausikan

Bilahari Kausikan
Chairman, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore
Bilahari Kausikan is currently Chairman of the Middle East Institute, an autonomous institute of the National University 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, Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, and as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry. Raffles Institution, the University of Singapore and Columbia University in New York all attempted to educate him.

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Gabuev

Alexander Gabuev
Director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
Alexander Gabuev leads a renowned team of analysts who were formerly part of the Carnegie Moscow Center, which was forced to close by the Kremlin in early 2022 after nearly three decades of operation.

Gabuev’s own research is focused on Russian foreign policy with particular focus on the
impact of the war in Ukraine and the Sino-Russia relationship. Since joining Carnegie in 2015,
Gabuev has contributed commentary and analysis to a wide range of publications, including the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. Gabuev began his career as a journalist. He was a member of the editorial board of Kommersant and served as deputy editor in chief of Kommersant-Vlast, which at the time was one of Russia’s most influential newsweeklies. Gabuev started his career at Kommersant in 2007 working as a senior diplomatic reporter, as a member of the Kremlin press corps, and as deputy foreign editor for Kommersant.
Gabuev has previously worked as a nonresident visiting research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and taught courses on Chinese energy policy and political culture at Moscow State University. In April-June 2018, Gabuev was a visiting scholar at Fudan University (Shanghai, China) where he taught courses on Sino-Russian relations. Gabuev is a Munich Young Leader of Munich Security Conference and a member of Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (Russia).

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Simona Grano

Simona Grano
Senior Lecturer and Director of the Taiwan Studies Project, University of Zurich
Simona Grano has held research positions and taught China Studies and Taiwan Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice in Italy, at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and at National Cheng'chi University in Taiwan.

She is a research fellow of the European Research Center on Contemporary Taiwan (ERCCT), in Tübingen, Germany and a research associate of SOAS, London.
Simona is the author of  Environmental Governance in Taiwan: a new generation of activists and stakeholders, published in 2015 by Routledge. Her articles have appeared in the Journal of Civil Society, Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, China Information, Asiatische Studien, Taiwan in Comparative Perspective, Orizzonte Cina. Her latest edited volume: China-US Competition: Impact on Small and Middle Powers' Strategic Choices, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in December 2022.
Simona completed her Ph.D. in Chinese Studies at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy in 2008.

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bruno macaes

Bruno Maçaes
Author, former Minister of European Affairs of Portugal
Bruno Maçaes has represented his country in Brussels during the eurozone crisis, the first Ukraine war and Brexit.

 

He has published four books since 2018, mostly focused on geopolitics, China, Russia, and technology. Bruno has a doctorate in political science from Harvard and has recently held fellowships at Renmin University in China and the Hudson Institute. Since 2020, he is a fellow at the Wilfried Martens Centre in Brussels, and since 2022 a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. His latest book, Geopolitics for the End Time, was published in September 2021. He specialises in technology policy, the European Union, and Chinese and Russian foreign policy.

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Milan Vaishnav

Milan Vaishnav
Senior Fellow and Director, South Asia Program,  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP)
Milan Vaishnav is the author of When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics and host of Grand Tamasha, a weekly podcast on Indian politics and policy.

His primary research focus is the political economy of India. Before joining Carnegie, he worked at the Center for Global Development, where he served as a postdoctoral research fellow, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Milan is an adjunct professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and has previously taught at Columbia and George Washington Universities. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 


What is STATE OF ASIA?

STATE OF ASIA is the flagship yearly conference of Asia Society Switzerland. The second iteration will take place on November 22, 2023, at the Swiss Re Center for Global Dialogue in Rüschlikon.

STATE OF ASIA provides a condensed overview of the current and future developments in Asia, and how they affect the world. It is geared towards decision-makers from business, government, NGOs, academia and civil society.

STATE OF ASIA is only accessible by invitation. Think you should receive an invitation? Let us know why through this form.

On the eve of the conference, November 21, we will host the State of Asia Address. This event is open to the public and sets the stage for our conference the next day. More information.

Why should I attend STATE OF ASIA?

It has never been more important to understand current and future developments in Asia than today. From the race for economic supremacy to security politics, from climate change to the role of technology, Asia is shaping the big issues of our time.

Asia is a big, complex, and dynamic region, and it can be hard to keep an overview and make sense of all the developments. STATE OF ASIA will bring together experts and decision-makers from across the globe to help you understand the key trends in geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geostrategy in a concise and innovative format.

Who should not attend STATE OF ASIA?

If you have never left your hometown, exclusively consume products made in your country of residence, and have no interest in global affairs whatsoever: feel free to skip this one.

If you have spent the past 60+ years traveling Asia extensively, have studied it academically, have garnered experience in business there, and have high-level trusted contacts in several countries, you may not need to attend either. (Please get in touch tough, we’d love to get to know you!)

But if you, like most of us, feel that developments in Asia are of growing importance to you professionally or personally (or both); if you think that just following the news isn’t quite enough to get the full picture and connect the dots; and if you enjoy being in the presence of other smart people, then you should consider joining us. We’d love to have you.

What kind of tickets are available for STATE OF ASIA?

If you have received an invitation, you can choose between two kinds of tickets:

  • Regular Ticket (500 CHF): Access to the STATE OF ASIA conference on November 22 and the public State of Asia Address on November 21
  • Executive Leader Ticket (1400 CHF for 2 people): Access to the STATE OF ASIA conference, including Exclusive Briefings with speakers on November 22, and to the State of Asia Address on November 21, for 2 people (see details below)

A 15% EARLY BIRD Discount is available until July 16, 2023.

I work for a NPO, an academic institution or a governmental organization. Do I get a discount?

Yes, please let us know why you want to attend SOA through this form. With a granted invitation you will be able to purchase a ticket at a 50% discount.

I work for a media outlet and want to cover STATE OF ASIA. Can I get in for free?

Yes, please tell us more about the intended coverage, format and estimated publication through this form. With a granted invitation you will be accredited officially as a member of the press and are entitled to obtaine a complimentary Regular Ticket.

I’m a Patron or work for a Corporate Member of Asia Society Switzerland. Do I get a discount?

Yes, Patrons and Corporate Member employees of Asia Society Switzerland are eligible for a discount. If you haven't received an access link yet, please send an email to switzerland@asiasociety.org to receive access and purchase your ticket.

I’m a General Member or Passport Member of Asia Society Switzerland. Can I attend STATE OF ASIA?

We greatly appreciate the support of our General Members and Passport Members. While invitations for STATE OF ASIA are not automatically send to Members, we value your interest in the conference. If you think you should receive an invitation, we kindly ask you to let us know why you are interested in STATE OF ASIA particularly through this form.

Please note that General Members and Passport Members are not eligible for a discount.

What are the Executive Leader Tickets, and why should I buy one?

Executive Leader Tickets provide access not just to the conference, but to exclusive off-the-record briefing sessions with speakers in the morning and over lunch on November 22. They are ideal if you want to receive privileged information on the State of Asia or follow up on specific items with speakers directly. They also provide the opportunity to interact with peers in a more intimate setting.

Please note that each Executive Leader Ticket includes two seats, with the provision that at least one seat must be awarded to a person under the age of 40.

Why do you require at least one person to be under 40 for Executive Leader Tickets?

Asia Society Switzerland is deeply committed to fostering Asia Competence in Switzerland and exposing younger generations to insights on Asia is one of our key priorities.

We encourage you to award one seat to someone from your organization that you think will benefit from this learning experience, but you are free to bring anyone you’d like as long as they are under 40 at the time of the conference.

How can I buy a ticket?

You can buy a ticket to STATE OF ASIA by invitation only. Invitations are being sent out by Asia Society Switzerland. If you think your name should be on the invitation list, please let us know through this form. We are striving to curate a diverse audience, and will consider organizational affiliation, industry background, and other factors when extending invitations. We apologize in advance if we are unable to provide a ticket even if you have requested one.

The State of Asia Address on November 21 featuring STATE OF ASIA speaker Bilahari Kausikan is open to the public. Registration will open in September 2023. More information.

This event is organized in collaboration with Swiss Re Institute.

swissre logo black

Event Details

In-person
Wed 22 Nov 2023
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Swiss Re Center
for Global Dialogue
Gheistrasse 37
8803 Rüschlikon

Click for directions

Ticket Categories

If you have received an invitation, you can choose between two kinds of tickets:

  • Regular Ticket
    (500 CHF)
  • Executive Leader Ticket
    (1400 CHF for 2 people)

15% EARLY BIRD Discount unitl July 16, 2023!

More information in the FAQ.