The CPTPP TRACKER gauges Canada’s performance within the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, the 11-member trade deal that came into force in December 2018.

The inaugural edition of the annual CPTPP TRACKER presents an early assessment of the first year of the CPTPP, showing early gains and losses in trade expansion, opportunities created for Canadian businesses, and the patterns of growth in CPTPP economies over the past three years.

It also explores the context in which the CPTPP entered into force, and the effects of the U.S.-China trade war on member economies and Canada’s own export performance.

Our researchers look forward to sharing their results, and fielding your questions.

By Invitation Only

Patricia Evangelista, selected as this year’s Marshall McLuhan Fellow, will discuss her experiences covering under-reported issues in the Philippines, the implications for those on the margins, and the challenges and efforts of bringing to light difficult and unpopular stories.

In her talk at APF Canada, Patricia will underscore the significant role the media play as a social conscience, and one that influences public policy and action. She will also discuss what journalists should do to responsibly communicate stories of those on the margins at a time when human rights and other fundamental freedoms in the Philippines are under the spotlight.

The Marshall McLuhan Award is presented every year by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility and the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines to a Filipino/Filipina journalist who has done excellent work in the preceding year.

About Patricia Evangelista:

Patricia Evangelista is this year’s McLuhan Fellow and a multimedia journalist for the online news organization, Rappler, in the Philippines. She specializes in reporting disasters, conflicts, and development issues. She also has covered human rights-related stories, extra-judicial killings, and the long national campaign for the legislation of reproductive rights. 

She has produced documentaries and long-form multimedia reportage that brought her international acclaim and recognition:  Her reporting of armed conflict as well as the aftermath of supertyphoon Haiyan were awarded the Agence France-Presse Kate Webb Prize for exceptional journalism in dangerous conditions. She is a recipient of two New York Festivals medals for her documentary work. Her recent work for Rappler received the Human Rights Press Award, three Society of Publishers in Asia awards for Excellence in Feature Writing, Investigative Reporting and Human Rights Reporting. 

Patricia is a fellow of the South East Asian Press Alliance, the Dart Center Ochberg International Fellowship for Trauma, and the 2018 Logan Nonfiction Fellowship at the Carey Institute for Global Good. She is currently completing a non-fiction book on the Philippine drug war.

Please RSVP to events@asiapacific.ca

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada invites you to the launch of its 2019 National Opinion Poll: Canadian Views on Human Capital from Asia on October 30th, 2019 in Vancouver.

As the development of increasingly sophisticated technologies drives the demand for high-skilled talent, Asia, with a young and educated workforce and now a leader in research, presents a hopeful opportunity for Canada.

With an aim to inform public policies around attracting and retaining international talent, this edition of APF Canada’s National Opinion Poll assesses Canadian attitudes toward the recruitment of foreign workers with special attention to high-skilled talent from Asia, its importance to the future of the Canadian economy, and immigration policies Canada should pursue.

Presentation & Q&A Session with APF Canada’s Surveys and Polling Team

Followed by Reception

Seating is limited, please RSVP to events@asiapacific.ca

Note: This event is open to media; registration is required via events@asiapacific.ca

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is dedicated to strengthening multi-sectoral linkages between Canada and Asia by promoting bilateral and multilateral dialogues around technology, economic, political, and security issues. In line with this mandate, APF Canada will convene a 1.5-day conference in Toronto on October 9 & 10, 2019 to examine the intersect between technology and geopolitics; specifically, the challenges and opportunities around technology adoption, markets and investment, development, and standards within the broader global context of U.S.-China technology competition.

Canada’s future economic development and competitiveness depends on its ability to successfully navigate this difficult terrain. Yet, Canadian businesses and governments will find it increasingly difficult to make decisions about which technologies to pursue, to develop, and to adopt based on technical criteria. Neither will the state’s choices be cost-free, with potentially far-reaching impacts on trade and investment. A clear discussion on Canadian national interests and strategies for dealing with this technology ‘divide’ is, therefore, critical.     

By Invitation Only

With thanks to our sponsors:

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and The Japan Society are pleased to co-present a Gala Dinner on Saturday, August 24, 2019, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Japan, the 35th anniversary of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and the 30th anniversary of The Japan Society. The Gala will be held at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado will be our distinguished guest and will give the evening’s keynote address. The evening will also feature special performances by Grammy-nominated pianist Makoto Ozone and Juno-nominated jazz vocalist Dione Taylor.

Photo of Makota Ozone, by Kobayashi Yamaha; Dione Taylor by Soular Productions

Further, the Order of Rising Sun will be presented to Ben Ciprietti, President of The Japan Society, for his service to Canada-Japan relations.

Proceeds from the Gala Dinner will support the Royal Ontario Museum's work on Japanese Art & Culture, including programming for the Prince Takamado Gallery, and Japan Festival Canada 2019.

Registration for the Gala Dinner is now closed.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Jordan Dupuis (416) 597-8040 x204

or

Kate Scullin (416) 597-8040 x206

Distinguished Guest
Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado

Her Imperial Highness Princess Hisako Takamado was born in Tokyo and studied at Sacred Heart Girls’ School. When her father was posted to the U.S.A. and to the U.K., the family moved to these countries. She is a graduate of Cambridge University where her subjects were Chinese Studies, Archaeology and Anthropology. She married His Imperial Highness Prince Norihito in 1984 and they were blessed with three daughters. She is the Honorary Patron or President of many organisations including BirdLife International, the International Kyudo Federation and the Japan Football Association. Her hobbies are painting, birdwatching, photography, tennis and kyudo. She is the author of three children’s books including “Lulie the Iceberg” (Kodansha International), “Have Netsuke Will Travel” (Kodansha), a collection of bird photographs “Yori-Dori, Mi-Dori” amongst others.

Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado continues to maintain the strong connection to Canada established by HIH the late Prince Takamado, who attended Queen’s University from 1978 to 1981. Their third daughter, Mrs. Ayako Moriya (who renounced her imperial status after marrying a commoner), studied abroad at Camosun College and the University of British Columbia from 2013-2015.

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Canada’s first diplomatic legation in Japan in 1929, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) has invited Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado to embark on a six-city tour of Canada in August, visiting institutions, organizations and community groups that have worked to strengthen bonds between Canada and Japan, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to Canada-Japan relations, and commemorating 90 years of friendship and cooperation. HIH Princess Takamado will visit Toronto, Ottawa, Charlottetown, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.

Proceeds will benefit:

Japanese Art & Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum. The ROM is home to Canada’s largest collection of Japanese art and culture, with over 10,000 objects and works of art, some of which are on view in the country’s only gallery dedicated to Japanese art and culture, the Prince Takamado Gallery. The collections and the gallery are overseen by Canada’s first curator who is solely in charge of Japanese art and culture. Your support will enhance a reinvigorated program of Japan at the Museum.

Japan Festival CANADA 2019, the largest Japanese Cultural Festival in North America, will proudly return to Mississauga Celebration Square on August 24-25, bringing Japanese food, culture and technologies to Canada and to the world. This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the establishment of the first Canadian diplomatic legation in Japan; and Japan Festival CANADA 2019 is celebrating the further establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Japan by commemorating this special milestone together with a large crowd of attendees.

Presented by:
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is a not-for-profit organization focused on Canada’s relations with Asia. Our mission is to be Canada’s catalyst for engagement with Asia and Asia’s bridge to Canada. APF Canada is dedicated to strengthening ties between Canada and Asia with a focus on expanding economic relations through trade, investment and innovation; promoting Canada’s expertise in offering solutions to Asia’s climate change, energy, food security and natural resource management challenges; building Asia skills and competencies among Canadians, including young Canadians; and improving Canadians’ general understanding of Asia and its growing global influence.

The Japan Society is a national organization of corporations, professional firms, organizations, societies, associations, academic institutions, government departments and individuals which is focused on:
• Enabling Canadian and Japanese business executives, professionals, academic leaders and government representatives to meet on a regular basis to discuss matters of mutual and collective interest;
• Furthering strong and viable economic relations between Canada and Japan;
• Enabling Members to acquire greater cultural understanding and the ability to establish long-lasting relationships; and
• Supporting business, educational and cultural exchanges.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is co-organizing the second annual Canada-China Forum with the School of Economics at Fudan University (FDU) following the successful inauguration of the Forum in 2018.

This year’s Forum will focus on how Canadian and Chinese companies can work together and continue business in the context of the ongoing trade dispute. The Forum will feature keynote speeches by Professor Jun Zhang, Dean of the School of Economics, FDU, and the Hon. James Moore (invited), former Minister of Industry Canada, followed by a panel discussion with business leaders and experts.

The Forum will be co-hosted by Fudan University Alumni Association of Vancouver and Alumni Representative Office in Vancouver; School of Econmics, FDU; and, supported by Simon Fraser University.

Confirmed Speakers/Moderators: 

• Wade Larson, Founder and Executive Vice-President, Business Development, URTHECAST CORP
• Dr. Jeff Reeves, Vice-President of Research for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Wei Shao, Partner, Dentons Canada LLP
• Her Excellency, Madame Tong Xiaoling, Consul General of PRC in Vancouver
• The Hon. Senator Yuen Pau Woo, Facilitator of the Independent Senators Group of the Federal Government of Canada
• Prof. Jun Zhang, Dean of the School of Economics at Fudan University
• Iris Zhao, Vice-President of Fudan University Alumni Association of Vancouver and CEO of A2Z Capital

By Invitation Only

A 'fact-finding' roundtable discussion with Patricia Elliott, Canada's new Senior Trade Commissioner to Hong Kong.

BY INVITATION ONLY

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is hosting a roundtable discussion with Canada’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, H.E. Ms. Wendy Gilmour. Ms. Gilmour will lead a discussion on the evolving bilateral relationship shared by Canada and Pakistan.

By Invitation Only

Join the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT-Toronto) for a breakfast meeting on June 14 about doing business in Japan, featuring the Consul-General of Japan in Toronto, Takako Ito, and Christine Nakamura, Vice-President, Toronto, with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

You'll learn about opportunities for Canadian companies in Japan, the recent trade mission for women entrepreneurs to Japan, and upcoming trade missions. 

About Takako Ito, Consul-General of Japan in Toronto

Ms. Takako Ito is the first female Consul-General of Japan in Toronto. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan in 1985. Her overseas postings included Embassies in Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Mission of Japan to the UN in New York, and the Mission of Japan to ASEAN as Deputy Chief of Mission. At home, she served in many capacities, covering economic partnership negotiations, human rights, transnational crimes, development assistance policy planning, and the international press. Before arriving in Toronto, Ms. Ito was Assistant Chief of Protocol of MOFA, as well as Master of Ceremonies at Imperial Household Agency. She graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo and has a master's degree in International Affairs from Carleton University. 

About Christine Nakamura, Vice-President, Toronto, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

From 1976 to 2011, Ms. Christine Nakamura served in various capacities with the Canadian government, including at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Department of Justice and, most recently, the Department of Foreign Affiars, Trade and Development. She has served overseas in Japan and Korea and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, where she majored in East Asian Studies. She is a board member of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Foundation in Toronto and a member of the Advisory Council (Canada) for the Prince Takamado Japan Canada Memorial Fund.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada invites you to the launch of its 2019 National Opinion Poll: Canadian Views on High-Tech Investment from Asia on June 12, 2019 in Vancouver.

As the U.S.-China tech war and the global Huawei crisis continue, Canada finds itself at a crossroads of how to harness the vast potential of Asian investment in Canadian technology while safeguarding national security and Canadian values.

Our 2019 National Opinion Poll (NOP) provides a nuanced understanding of the public sentiment toward Asian investment in Canada’s high-tech sector, a core economic driver of tomorrow. The NOP highlights the driving forces of an overall skepticism as well as room and opportunities for further engagement with Asia in this critical sector.

PRESENTATION AND Q&A SESSION FOLLOWED BY RECEPTION

with APF Canada’s Surveys and Polling Team

BY INVITATION ONLY

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will be hosting a roundtable discussion with Jeff Nankivell, Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao. Jeff will be discussing the current Canada-China relationship, along with the different challenges and opportunities for business in the current climate.

BY INVITATION ONLY

APF Canada is hosting a roundtable discussion with Her Excellency Ms. Natasha Smith, Australian High Commissioner to Canada.

Ms. Smith will discuss economic, political, and strategic challenges and opportunities in the Asia Pacific, along with her perspectives on Australia's role in the region and Canada-Australia relations as they relate to future collaboration in the new global economy.

BY INVITATION ONLY

Indian Summer’s annual Dinner by Starlight fundraising gala is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Seats to this event are limited and the event attracts an audience of 250 discerning guests and supporters.

This year's Dinner by Starlight takes place in the oceanfront Grand Ballroom of the Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver. Canadian culinary magician chef Vikram Vij collaborates with celebrated chef Karan Suri to create one-time-only culinary delights that resonate with the evening’s theme, 'The Future is Asian.'

The theme takes its name from the book by our very special guest of honour, Dr. Parag Khanna, geostrategist, futurist, and best-selling author.

About Parag Khanna

“Parag Khanna makes a powerful argument: the world can become smarter than the sum of its parts. We need to pay attention to his ideas.”  – Eric Schmidt, former CEO and Executive Chairman, Google

Geostrategist, futurist and best-selling author Dr. Parag Khanna is a highly sought-after thinker, advising the world’s top companies, governments, and institutions on their future maps.

The New York Times describes him as "a foreign policy whiz kid" and Esquire magazine named him one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century. Khanna is the founder of FutureMap, a data and scenario-based strategic advisory firm, and a best-selling author of six books. His TED talks have had millions of views.

Get your tickets at bit.ly/Dinner-By-Starlight

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is proud to announce the launch of its signature, annual Investment Monitor report, which delves into foreign direct investment (FDI) between Canada and the Asia Pacific.

The 2019 report’s main focus on city-level FDI between Canada and the Asia Pacific is the first data-driven analysis at this level of detail on an issue that has captivated business headlines across Canada. It answers key questions on the who, what, where, when, and how of the Asia Pacific region’s investment into Canada – and conversely, on Canada’s own investments across the Asia Pacific.

By harnessing primary sources and in-depth research, the 2019 Report adds much-needed nuance to flashpoint discussions on the future of Canada’s economic engagement with the Asia Pacific.

The launch coincides with the online release of new data through investmentmonitor.ca, which allows Canadians to use easily accessible data visualization tools to uncover novel stories about the Canada-Asia Pacific investment relationship, right down to their local cities and sectors.

BY INVITATION ONLY

As part of a special report on Canada, Brooke Unger is visiting Vancouver to see firsthand how the city – and Canada more widely – has been shaped by its relations with the Asia Pacific. Please join us at the Foundation to hear Brooke share his thoughts on how Canada is seen in the world today, and to discuss the cross-border Cascadia Innovation Corridor, the influence of China on Canada, the contributions of our diaspora communities, and the role of Indigenous development, among other issues impacting today’s Canada-Asia dynamic.

BY INVITATION ONLY

The ASEAN Opportunity – Vancouver Edition

Event Synopsis

At the ASEAN Opportunity event in Vancouver, the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, in collaboration with Deloitte Canada, will bring together a panel of leading Canadian professionals and entrepreneurs who have raised capital and built companies in ASEAN for a candid discussion about the prospects and challenges of the region. The panel discussion will be followed by a networking session.

Agenda

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Registration and Breakfast

8:30 - 8:45 a.m. Welcome Remarks

8:45 - 9:00 a.m. Overview of ASEAN and CABC, Andrew Doherty, Executive Director – Canada, CABC

9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Panel Introducation and Discussion

10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Questions/Run-over

Canadian AI and the ASEAN Market Opportunity

Through an expert panel, the Canadian Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the ASEAN Market Opportunity event in Toronto will educate Canadian firms on the ASEAN region and define the economic advantages of targeting ASEAN as an international business development strategy. The panel event features commentary from leaders in the tech sector, as well as from the business community who leverage and support the Canadian tech sector. 

Moderator

Mr. Craig Brown –Partner, Fasken

Panelists

Mr. Megh Gupta – Global Head of Strategy & Corporate Development, Element AI

Mr. Lionel Pimpin – Senior Vice-President, Digital Channels and P&C Strategies, National Bank of Canada

Mr. Loudon Owen – CEO, DLT Labs + Managing Partner, MW Capital

Dr. Ian Scott – Partner, OMNIA, Chief Data Scientist, Deloitte LLP

Mr. Brett House – Deputy Chief Economist, Scotiabank

Agenda

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Registration and Breakfast

8:30 - 8:35 a.m. Opening remarks by CABC

8:35 - 8:40 a.m. Remarks by Mr. Omar Alghabra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Diversification

8:40 - 8:45 a.m. Remarks by Fasken

8:45 - 8:50 a.m. Introduction to Robot of the Year

8:50 - 9:10 a.m. Fireside Chat with Element AI

9:10 - 9:20 a.m. ASEAN Economic Outlook

9:20 - 10:00 a.m. Panel Discussion

10:00 - 10:20 a.m. Q & A

10:20 - 10:30 a.m. Event closes

Is your company interested in pursuing opportunities created by China’s transition to a 'green growth' economy? Are you eager to discover the opportunities and challenges in the world’s largest market for clean tech products and services?

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada would like to invite you to a webinar to learn about utilizing the China Eco-City Tracker, a tool that allows users to track the changes in environmental protection performance of China's major cities since 2013.

Things we will cover during the webinar:

1. What is the China Eco-City Tracker Project and what information is provided by the Tracker’s data visualization tool?
2. What initiatives have been taken by China to combat environmental degradation?

Presenters:

• Iris Jin, Senior Program Manager at APF Canada
• Evan Due, consultant to APF Canada; advisor to the China Development Research Foundation

The event is free of charge, please make sure you register by March 11, and download the “Zoom Client for Meetings” webinar software in advance through this link. Further instructions for joining the webinar will be provided to you after the registration deadline.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is a not-for-profit organization focused on Canada's relations with Asia. Our mission is to be Canada's catalyst for engagement with Asia and Asia's bridge to Canada, with promoting Canada's expertise in offering solutions to Asia's climate change, energy, and natural resource management challenges being one of our key objectives.

Hosted By:

With Support From:

Is your company interested in pursuing opportunities created by China’s transition to a “green growth” economy?
 
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Canada China Business Council are organizing four roundtable discussions, Clean Tech Opportunities in China, which will focus on China’s “green growth” economy and the possibilities for Canadian companies in this market.

Participants will learn about APF Canada’s China Eco-City Tracker and the role of APF Canada in providing policy research in support of clean tech business development in China.

The sessions will take place in four Canadian cities:
 

Vancouver, BC – Monday, January 28, 2019, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
900-675 W. Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC

Montreal, QC – Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Venue and time to be announced soon.

Toronto, ON – Friday, February 1, 2019, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Gowling WLG
1 First Canadian Place
100 King Street West, Suite 1600
Toronto, ON

Calgary, AB – Monday, February 4, 2019, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Dentons Canada LLP
850 - 2nd Street SW, 15th Floor, Bankers Court
Calgary, AB

 
In addition, participating companies will have the opportunity to provide APF Canada with their perspectives on China’s growing clean technology market. Insights from company representatives should address the questions below, based on their current or planned business in China.
 

1. What are the key business development issues your company faces with respect to opportunities in the clean tech market in China?
    

2. China’s economic and environmental objectives still require further alignment and consolidation. What information issues does your company face with respect to clean tech development in China? How would your business model change with more information and at what level (city, provincial)?
    

3. What do you see are potential avenues for Canadian business expansion in China in the clean tech areas of air, water, and solid waste, including in which geographical areas?
    

4. How can policy research institutions like APF Canada, as well as other intermediaries such as CCBC and Canada’s trade missions, better aid in your company’s market decisions and risk assessments? Is the China Eco-City Tracker of particular interest? What information could be provided to aid in your business?

 
The roundtables will be facilitated by Evan Due, a consultant to APF Canada and an advisor to the China Development Research Foundation, an institution initiated by the Development Research Centre of the State Council of China.
 
Registration will be of interest to companies and professionals involved in the clean tech/environment sector. Participation will be confirmed by CCBC.

The roundtables are free to attend, but companies must register in advance. Seating is limited. 

For more information, please contact:
Ontario: Noah Fraser, 416-954-3800 x320, noah@ccbc.com
Quebec: Claire Zhang, 514-842-7837, quebec@ccbc.com
BC: Jane Wang, 604-609-6189, bc@ccbc.com
Prairies: Wayne Thai 403-910-2320, wayne@ccbc.com

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is hosting a brownbag presentation by this year's Marshall McLuhan Fellow, Jeff Canoy, a broadcast journalist with Philippines media and entertainment group ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. Jeff has covered major conflicts and humanitarian and natural disasters in the Philippines including volcanic eruptions, landslides, and Category 5 Super Typhoons that hit the country. He has also worked on stories on the Maguindanao massacre, the botched police operation in Mamasapano, and investigative reports on extrajudicial killings and torture linked to police. He currently covers the Philippine National Police and the government’s war on drugs and is an anchor for the public affairs program Red Alert, focusing on risk reduction and disaster preparedness.

Jeff's TV documentary, Never Shall be Conquered, about the Islamic State-inspired siege of Marawi, the Philippines’ only Islamic city,  recently won a Gold Dolphin trophy for Best Documentary under the Current Affairs, Human Concerns, and Social Issues Category at the 9th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards in France. His stories on disaster response have won him several awards from the local broadcasters’ guild.

Most recently, Jeff was an international fellow for the Malaysian Press Institute and has completed journalism programs at the Lauder School of Government in Tel Aviv, Israel and Columbia University in New York.

For his APF Canada presentation Jeff will discuss his experiences in covering the war in Marawi last year, including challenges, gaps, best practices, and efforts to underline the significant role media play as a watchdog to strengthen democracy and rule of law.

Save the Date: Join us Oct. 30 for our Media Fellows Alumni Appreciation and CEO Panel Night with co-hosts Weber Shandwick Vancouver and support from Cathay Pacific Canada.

Meet our former and current Media Fellows and hear some of Canada's leading CEOs discuss Canada's place in the world, today and tomorrow.

Watch this space . . . details to follow!

Mr. Stewart Patrick, Senior Fellow in Global Governance and Director of the International Institutions and Global Governance (IIGG) Program at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C., will speak to what the implications are, or could be, of the U.S.’s non-participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), formerly known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) especially as China proceeds to deepen trade and economic engagement around the world through the Belt and Road Initiative and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

In addition, his comments will touch on what the American domestic foundations are for re-engagement of Asia in a context of rising regionalism, insularity, and protectionism in the U.S.

APF Canada is grateful to the U.S. Embassy Ottawa, Office of Public Affairs, as well as to the David See-Chai Lam Centre for International Communication at Simon Fraser, for co-hosting this event.

Please RSVP for a seat through Eventbrite by clicking on this link.

Voters in Cambodia head to the polls on July 29, 2018 to elect the country’s National Assembly. Join the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada for a conversation with two Cambodia watchers who will share their insights into the elections and possible post-election political developments.

The lead-up to this election has been fraught with tension. Current Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has held the position since 1985 and is Asia’s longest-serving prime minister, is seeking another term. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised within and outside Cambodia about a lack of genuine political competition and the erosion of freedom of the press. Last year, the largest opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved and its leader jailed, while the Phnom Penh Post, the last independent English-language news outlet in the country, was sold in May to a Malaysian businessman with ties to the Cambodian government.

How this will all net out for the people of Cambodia—specifically, whether they will get pulled further into an authoritarian undertow—remains to be seen.

About the Presenters:

Gordon Longmuir:
Gordon served in the Royal Canadian Navy before joining the (then) Department of External Affairs, with diplomatic postings in Vietnam, Japan (twice), Korea and Thailand. He was Deputy High Commissioner in India from 1991-95, and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia from 1995-99. He is currently a Research Associate of the Institute of Asian Research at UBC and is active with the Vancouver Branch of the Canadian International Council. He has monitored two previous Cambodian elections.

Darren Touch:
Darren Touch is a candidate in the Masters of Public Policy and Global Affairs at UBC and a recent graduate from the University of Ottawa with a baccalaureate in the Joint Honours Political Science and Public Administration (Co-op) program. Darren was formerly a Junior Policy Associate at the Public Policy Forum. He has also worked with Canada's Digital Policy Forum, the Government of Canada at Public Works and Government Services Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada. Darren was also the youngest-serving president of the Cambodian Association of the Ottawa Valley and the former Vice-President of the Academic Affairs for the public administration program at the University of Ottawa.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) has partnered with the Canadian International Council (CIC), Vancouver branch, to host a brownbag discussion with Dr. Stephen Nagy, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. The CIC is an independent, member-based council established in 1928 to strengthen Canada's role in global affairs. 

ASEAN has been unseated as the primary driver of Asian integration. On the one hand, China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is integrating the region through geo-economic statecraft that, while providing a public good to some developing countries, aims to create more economic autonomy for China. On the other hand, China's growing economic, military, and deplomatic footprint in Asia has created new regional alignments - and resurrected others - that are contributing to a sea change in the emerging superpower's influence in the region. 

What does this mean for Asian regionalism? Can ASEAN remain a key anchor in the regionalization process? And what alternatives are arising as countires in Asia re-calibrate their national interests to manage the pressures emanating from the escalating China-U.S. rivalry? This presentation will examine these questions by analyzing how China-U.S. relations are in fact driving the reconfiguration of Asian regionalism, and how socio-economic development and security concerns in particular are shifting the axis of Asian regionalism away from its ASEAN centre (if it ever was) toward competing visions of Asian regionalization.

By Invitation Only

The School of Economics (SOE) at Fudan Universtiy (Fudan U) and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) will co-host a luncheon forum with a keynote speech by Professor Jun Zhang, Dean of SOE of Fudan U., followed by an armchair dialogue with professor Daniel Shapior, Dean Emeritus, Beedie School fo Business, Simon Fraser University and the Honourable Yuen Pau Woo, Senator, Parliament of Canada.

The keynote speaker Professor Zhang is one of the leading economists in China and will share his insights on China's economy and Canada-China relations at this forum with business leaders, academic researchers, professional practitioners, and other individuals who share the same interest. 

The Punjabi Canadian Legacy Project (PCLP) is an initiative of the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley in partnership with the Royal BC Museum. The goal of the PCLP is to preserve, share, and explore the Punjabi community’s contributions to British Columbian and Canadian history.

By bringing communities together to record family histories, the PCLP compiles and shares Punjabi historical and contemporary perspectives on immigration, employment, social organizations, inter-generational/intercultural understandings, family settlements, integration, political struggles, and experiences of racism and discriminatory legislation.

Director Satwinder Bains and Co-Director Kamal Arora will be joined by co-ordinators Sharanjit Sandhra and Ishpreet Singh Anand, who will discuss the details of the project and the importance of archiving migration histories in Canada through hosting a brownbag event at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

By Invitation Only 

A roundtable discussion with Australia’s new High Commissioner to Canada, Natasha Smith, as she discusses Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper on a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. The White Paper was released in late 2017 and is the first comprehensive review of Australia's international engagement in 14 years. Discover what this means for Australia’s international engagement moving forward, particularly in the context of a rapidly-shifting international landscape. 

A roundtable discussion on global best practices for renewable energy, how Canada can benefit from emergent opportunities in the Asia Pacific, and how Canada can adopt and benefit from technological innovation in the region. Renewable energy consultant Cat Brown will also speak about advances in Cleantech and the international work she has done in this space. Cat has over 20 years of international management experience in energy in the U.K., Northern Europe, North Africa, Russia, and North America.

This Event is by Invitation Only 

China is going to hold its first China International Import Expo in Shanghai from November 5-to-10, 2018. Hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, with support from the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, the event aims to promote trade liberalization and economic globalization, and actively open the Chinese market to the world.

Is the Expo relevant to Canada, and how? Can Canada take advantage of the event to promote its trade and economic relations with China? Please join Dr. Ni Shoubing from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics in a discussion on The China International Import Expo and Its Implications for Canada-China Trade and Economic Relations.

About Dr. Ni Shoubin

Dr. Ni Shoubin is Professor and Dean of the School of Law, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE). He earned his Ph.D. in international law in 2005 from East China University of Politics and Law. He was a visiting scholar at Duke Law School from 2011 to 2012. Before joining SUIBE, he worked at investment and commercial banks in Shanghai for six years. He is also an arbitrator and serves as counselor for the Shanghai High Court.

RSVP required. Email events@asiapacific.ca to reserve yourself a seat.

Deanna Horton, an APF Canada Distinguished Fellow and Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, will discuss new software and analytics applications in advanced manufacturing. She will also share how Canadian tech companies are participating in international markets, and especially how they are taking advantage of opportunities in Asia. 

By Invitation Only 

A private roundtable discussion with the Head of Communications and Development for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Laurel Ostfield. Laurel will discuss how the new multilateral development bank aims to create a better tomorrow for billions of people by investing in sustainable infrastructure in Asia and beyond. 

By Invitation Only 

Join us March 15, 2018 for a special presentation on displacement, statelessness, and human rights and identity with acclaimed Canadian/American documentary photographer Greg Constantine. Greg’s presentation – driven by his stunning photography and first-hand experiences among the displaced persons of the Asia Pacific – will address the issue of global statelessness with a hard focus on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar/Bangladesh.   

The multimedia event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on March 15, 2018 at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Vancouver office (900-675 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1N2). Following Greg’s presentation there will be an audience Q&A. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to attend to Events Manager Mandy Ng at mandy.ng@asiapacific.ca.

Greg Constantine is a Canadian/American documentary photographer who has been based in Southeast Asia since early 2006. He has dedicated his career to long-term projects about human rights, inequality and injustice. He spent more than a decade working on the acclaimed project Nowhere People, is the author of three books and solo exhibitions of his work have been shown in over 40 cities worldwide.

In late 2016, Greg earned his Ph.D. from Middlesex University in the U.K. He was 2015 Distinguished Visiting Fellow with the International State Crime Initiative at Queen Mary University of London and is a 2018 IISRF Fellow at the Independent Social Research Foundation. Since November 2017 Greg has been an Artist in Residence of Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, Canada. He is currently working on a new long-term project called SEVEN DOORS, which explores and exposes the impact of immigration detention on asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants around the world.

Visit Greg on Twitter and Instragram: @grconstantine. And explore his work online: www.nowherepeople.org and www.7doors.org

Overview:

The United Nations estimates some 12 million people worldwide are without an effective nationality and are stateless. From Myanmar to Nepal and Malaysia to Thailand, Asia is home to some of the world's largest stateless communities.

While a person or community can become stateless for any number of reasons, it is the arbitrary denial of this fundamental right by the state, as well as the manifestation of discrimination and intolerance into policy, that rest at the heart of this global issue.

In August of 2017, many people in Canada were introduced for the first time to the persecution of the stateless Rohingya community from Myanmar (also called Burma). Described by the UN as a “text book case of ethnic cleansing,” others have claimed it is just one more step in a genocidal process that has spanned decades. This recent 'scorched earth' campaign by the Myanmar authorities and members of the local Rakhine Buddhist community has essentially eradicated the Rakhine State of the Rohingya by forcing 700,000 Rohingya out of the country and into neighbouring Bangladesh. It is the fastest and largest humanitarian crisis in the world today.

Documentary photographer, Greg Constantine has been documenting the persecution of the Rohingya community for 12 years, including time in Bangladesh in September 2017. Join us for this special presentation of his groundbreaking work on global statelessness. Greg will discuss this recent wave of violence toward the Rohingya under the civilian-led government of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi, how little if anything is being done to hold anyone to account for the atrocities, the response from ASEAN to the crisis, and how the issue of statelessness extends well beyond Asia and impacts societies and the lives of millions elsewhere in the world.

A private roundtable discussion with Deputy Ambassador Kirsten Hillman. The discussion will offer insights into where we are with NAFTA, how we anticipate CPTPP rolling out; and how are these agreements and others on the horizon changing the geopolitical landscape for Canada?

By Invitation Only

An intimate lunch we’re hosting with members and friends of the APFC. We will be discussing challenges and potential solutions to the interrelated issues of declining reporter-based media and the rise of disinformation in Canada and how this affects the Canada-Asia relationships. We are doing this in collaboration with the Public Policy Forum. We invite you to share your perspectives on this topic and on options going forward.

By Invitation Only

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) invites you to join us for a brownbag discussion on geopolitics and security shifts in East Asia focusing on Japan. There have been a number of dynamics impacting the geopolitical landscape in East Asia over the past few years. The most acute – and recent – examples of this have been the intensifying provocations from North Korea, which continues to look at enhancing its nuclear and missile program.

But, there are also a number of other critical changes in the region – from new leadership in South Korea to leadership consolidation in China. The region also continues to adapt to a new administration in the U.S. and its changing views on trade and – perhaps – alliances. All of these factors have made Japan's geo-strategic environment more complex. How is Japan adapting to this change and what are the tripwires to watch for? Also, what role is Canada – as a key middle power and long-standing friend of Tokyo – playing in this security environment?

The Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council (ABLAC) comprises a high-level group of Asian and Canadian business leaders convened annually to identify and articulate opportunities for improved Canadian-Asian business engagement. Launched in 2016, ABLAC has already established a critical forum to catalyze dialogue and action. To date, the focus has centred on the importance of a strong and distinctive Canadian brand in Asia, and the determinants of a successful Canadian pivot towards the region.

This year's meeting includes an exploratory session examining the current global context affecting Canada’s relationships with Asia, and a consultative session assisting with the development of a Canadian Asia Strategy for the 21st century.

Please note that this is an invitation-only event.

Janice McDonald, President of global business consulting firm, The Beacon Agency, will discuss the findings from her latest report (supported by BMO and the Centre for Women in Politics and Pubic Leadership at Carleton University) that examines common myths, barriers, and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Canada.

Janice will be in conversation with APF Canada’s President & CEO Stewart Beck, and VP Research & Programs Eva Busza, who will share findings from APF Canada’s national “Women to Women Roundtable” series.

VP Operations Vilupti Lok Barrineau (who has 25 years of global experience in the field of women’s financial inclusion and gender equality), and Project Specialist Amar Nijhawan (who recently conducted research looking at the role of women entrepreneurs in start-up ecosystems in South and Southeast Asia) will be responding to Janice’s work with anecdotes and lessons learned from the Asia Pacific. 

By invitation only. 

The CERBA-Vancouver Board of Directors invites its members and friends to attend the VII Mining and Mineral Exploration Conference organized on the margins of AME BC Roundup 2018 in collaboration with Deloitte and Deloitte Tax Law LLP, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the Association of Mineral Exploration BC.

Discussion topics will include new government policies and business climate implications in Eurasian and Central Asia countries, active projects, and resource industry demands for innovations and technologies transfer with sustainable regional development. 

Agenda:

11:30am Registration
12:00pm Opening Remarks
12:30pm Panel 1: Capitalize on resource opportunities in Eurasia and Central Asia: What's new?
2:00pm   Panel 2: Active Projects and Leveraging Innovation Techonologies 
3:30pm   Panel 3: Sustainable communities and engagement of First Nations in Resource Development Projects
4:45pm   Special Presentation: Eastern Economic Forum - 2018
5:00pm   Networking Reception 

Please register through this link.