2014 Asia Pacific Round Table
Under the theme of “Economic and Political Development in Asia and Pacific”, the 2014 Asia Pacific Round Table was successfully held t the Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 20 to 22, 2014. A total of 25 delegates from 11 countries and district attended the meeting. Countries represented were: Brunei, Cambodia, Guam, Laos, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Palau, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
A full day meeting was held on December 21 with the Opening session chaired by Dr. Tai Wan Chin, Vice President of the Tamkang University in Taiwan, and co-chaired by Mr. Thomas Hong Chye Lee,Secretary General of the APLFD Malaysia Chapter. Professor Arthur S. Ding, Director of the Institute of International Studies of the National Chengchi University in Taiwan, was the key-note speaker, who inspired the audience with his views on Asian economic cooperation, particularly the role of Taiwan in Asian free trade community, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Mr. Jeffrey Chuan-chin Kau, the Deputy Head of Mission of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, was also the speaker at the Opening.
Datuk Sri Hasan Malek, MP, the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism of Malaysia, sent his welcome message to the meeting. He noted that a gathering such as the Asia Pacific Round Table helps to promote interchanges and understandings in the region. Datuk Sri Hasan is the Chairman of the APLFD Malaysia Chapter. At the same time, the Lieutenant Governor of Guam, Mr. Ray Tenorio also sent his congratulate message to the roundtable. He is also the Honorary Chairman of the APLFD Guam Chapter.
Following the Opening, Session One was held to exchange views on the regional economic development. Chaired by Mr. Lien Kon Sion, the Founding Chairman of the Taiwan Business Association in Brunei, delegates from Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Guam and Brunei
presented their reports. The Session was concluded with a remarks from Mr. Charles C. Li, the Deputy Director General of the Department of NGO International Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the ROC (Taiwan).
Session Two, which is focused on Democracy development in the region, was held in the afternoon on December 21. Chaired by Mr. Jen Lomethong, Chairman of the APLFD Myanmar Chapter, delegates of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Myanmar presented their reports. In his report, Mr. Steve T. Chen, Director of the Taiwan Business Association in Hong Kong, gave a clear picture of what and why of the Occupy Central Movement, or the Umbrella Movement, in Hong Kong. Before the Session ended, Mr. Charles C. Li of the ROC(Taiwan) added a foot note on the topic of the session.
Session Two was followed by the Conclusion Session which was chaired Mr. Flavian Carlos, former Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Delegates of the National Congress of Palau. Mr. Nhukum Seng Hkum, an Advisor of International Project Management of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), gave his speech on the geo politics and Myanmar’s challenge. The Closing Speech was made by Mr. Charles C. Li, the Deputy Director General of the Department of NGO International Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of theROC (Taiwan). He concluded the meeting with a briefing on Taiwan’spolicy concerned with the regional developments.
This is the second Asia Pacific Round Table meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
The first Kuala Lumpur round table was held in November 2010 at the Federal Hotel. It was chaired by the same Datuk Sri Hansan bin Malek who was a Deputy Minister for Rural and District Developments at that time. The 2010 round table, held under the theme of “The Prospects of Regional Economic Development and Southeast Asia”, was attended by 32 delegates from 11 countries. A return to Kuala Lumpur after four years, there are changes and progress while the ruling party keep on moving with its movement of One Malaysia.