The 2023 State of Asia Address

Bilahari Kausikan on Asia as a potential model for a multi-polar world

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Bilahari Kausikan 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.

On November 21, 2023, Bilahari 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.

The full text of his speech is available as a download on this page. A video of Bilahari delivering the State of Asia Address is here.

STATE OF ASIA podcast

Season 5, Episode 6 – published November 23, 2023.

Host / Editor: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland

Find previous and future episodes here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or search for 'State of Asia' in any other podcast app. We're also on YouTube.

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State of Asia Address 2023 - Will the 21st Century Be Asian? By Bilahari Kausikan (PDF, 194.43 KB)

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The 2023 State of Asia Address

Listen to the 2023 State of Asia Address on key issues playing in Asia and how they impact the world, delivered by Singaporean diplomatic veteran Bilahari Kausikan.