As part of its Canada-Asia Agenda series, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) has released a piece entitled Japan’s ‘Russian Embrace’ Faces Awkward Trajectory which analyzes changes in Japan-Russia relations in the last year. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has prioritized improving relations with Moscow, particularly in the areas of energy security and security and defence issues, but Russia’s recent actions in Ukraine have cooled the bilateral relationship in part due to Tokyo’s concern that Moscow’s actions could create an international legal precedent affecting its own territorial disputes with Russia (over the Southern Kurile Islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan) and China (over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands). To read the article, please click here.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) announced it will host Canada’s Asia Challenge: Building Knowledge and Skills for the Next Generation, a national conference that will take place from October 15-17, 2014 in Calgary, Alberta. It will feature Canadian and international speakers who will share experiences, perspectives and good practices in preparing Canadian students and young professionals for the rise of Asia. APF Canada is partnering with the Government of Alberta and Manulife Financial to organize the conference which will bring together members of governments, education institutions, the private sector, civil society and leaders of Canada’s next generation to identify priority initiatives and next steps, create networks to support priority initiatives, and exchange program ideas and best practices.  For more information and to register, click here.