APLFD Newsletter 20134
To: APLFD Members
From: APLFD Secretariat
Date: December 16, 2013
Pages: 2
Dear Colleagues,
As 2013 is drawing to its end, may we take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Promising 2014.
Following are the updated news regarding our League affairs:
1. 2013 Asia Pacific Round Table Successfully Held
The 2013 Asia Pacific Round Table was held on November 29 to December 2 at the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand. Under the theme of “The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Asia Pacific Visions”, the meeting was attended by 47 delegates from 18 countries. Countries represented at the meeting were: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, Guam, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Palau, Philippine, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA, and Vietnam.
Mr. Nhkum Seng Hkum, an advisor of international project of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was the keynote speaker at the Opening. Distinguished speakers at the meeting also included :
General Charan Kullavanijaya, former Secretary General of the National Security Council of Thailand; Senator Wicharn Sirichai-Ekkawat of Thailand; Congressman Lucio Ngiraiwet of Palau; Dato Mohammed Najeeb bin Abdullah, former Senator of Malaysia, and Dr. Maung Zarni, Senior Visiting Fellow of the University of Malaya, Malaysia. Two sessions were held on November 30 followed by an APLFD Forum on December 1 during which country reports were presented by the delegates.
The APLFD last has its conference in Bangkok in 1992 when the 38th APLFD Conference was held. The support of our true members has made this return, even after 21 years, a very successful one.
2. News from Bangkok
Earlier in September, the APLFD Secretary General, Mr. Liou Jieh Jow, sent his deputy, Mr. Alex Wang, to visit Bangkok, Thailand, to pay a call on the League members. During his visit, Alex has met with
Dr. Dusit Puathasnanon, the Secretary General of the Thai Chapter, and Mr. Jen Lomethong, Chairman of the Myanmar Chapter. From Dr. Puathasanon, we learnt that ACM. Chakorn Dattananda, the Chairman of our Thailand Chapter, is well, but is retiring in northern Thailand due to certain health problem. Dr. Puathasanon said that he has been visiting ACM. Chakorn from time to time. And from Mr. Jen Lomethong, we learnt that the so called Open Policy in Myanmar is doubtful as there is still no peace in the country. According to Mr. Lomethong, the Burmese armed forces is still attacking the minority groups in a brutal way, forcing the minorities to form a united front for their survival.
3. Malaysia Chapter Has a New Vice President
Dato Mohammed Najeeb bin Abdullah, a former Senator, was named as the new Vice President of the APLFD Malaysia Chapter. He is a new friend of our League. Dato Najeeb first joined our Asia Pacific Round Table in 2012 as the Opening Chairman, then, he was the Closing Speaker at the 2013 Asia Pacific Round Table meeting. His participation at the round table has made him familiar with the APLFD. He is a graduate of the University of Charles Darwin in Australia. He has a MBA degree and knows the banking business. In 2010, he was appointed as a Malaysia Senator, for a term of 3 years.
4. Visitors from our Chapters
In October, Mr. Joseph Hsu, the Chairman of our Guam Chapter, paid a call on the Secretariat. He informed us that the Guam Chapter is growing strong after organizing several pubic activities for the Asia and Pacific community in Guam. He also said that Mr. Ray Tenorio, the Vice Governor of Guam, is interesting in joining the next APLFD meeting. Meanwhile, in November, Mr. Rodrigo Ong, Board Member of the