Convening

Meridian Diplomacy Forum: Countries of the Mekong

• Diplomatic Engagement
• Sports and Culture
• Business and Trade
• Foreign Policy
• Sports and Cultural Diplomacy
• Diplomatic Corps
• Individuals/Donors
• NGOs
• Private Sector
• Public Sector

Exploring the Cultural, Political and Economic Linkages between the U.S. and Mainland Southeast Asia Meridian International Center | Washington, DC | June 6, 2019 Summary The countries along the Mekong River have much in common boasting rich cultural heritage and biodiversity, while experiencing significant economic growth and undertaking substantial infrastructure development in recent years. The five nations of Mainland Southeast Asia – Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – comprise promising economic markets in this region of rising geopolitical importance and one with increasing wanderlust appeal.

As the United States continues to evaluate existing alliances and consider new partnerships, policymakers and private sector leaders are forging ahead with new and stronger bilateral and regional relationships with the countries along the Mekong. On June 6, 2019, the Meridian Diplomacy Forum : Countries of the Mekong brought together government, business and artistic leaders to discover and explore the ecological, cultural and economic allure flowing through the subregion.

A deeper understanding of the cultures and histories of Mainland Southeast Asia can lead to more effective and beneficial engagement between the United States and the governments, businesses and people of this emerging area of the globe. Meridian International Center is recognized around the world as a center for global leadership, bringing the right thinkers and decision makers together in a neutral forum to discuss and address critical global issues. 2019 marked the fourth year of the Meridian Diplomacy Forum . read more Forum Speakers The Honorable Stuart W.

Holliday CEO Emeritus (2006-2025) @ Meridian Forum Supporters Forum Agenda WELCOME REMARKS Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday , President and CEO, Meridian International Center PANEL: ADVANCING U.S. RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRIES ALONG THE MEKONG Moderator: Ambassador Stuart W. Holliday The Honorable Piper Campbell , Ambassador (retired) and former Chargé d'Affaires, U.S. Mission to ASEAN His Excellency Ha Kim Ngoc , Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam The Honorable Randall Schriver , Assistant Secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, U.S.

Department of Defense SPECIAL VIDEO MESSAGE The Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), United States Senator FEATURED SPEAKER The Honorable Mark Clark , Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State PANEL: ECONOMIC ALLURE OF THE SUBREGION FROM THE ICT REVOLUTION TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE BONANZA Moderator: Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran , Senior Editor, The Diplomat Verinda Fike , Regional Director for Indo-Pacific, United States Trade and Development Agency Boosara Kanchanalai , Chargé d'Affaires, Royal Thai Embassy Scott Kicker , Chief Executive Officer, Gen X Energy Erin Murphy , Founder and Principal, Inle Advisory Group FEATURED SPEAKER His Excellency Chum Sounry , Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia FEATURED SPEAKER Sammy Samuels , Managing Director, Myanmar Shalom PANEL: LEVERAGING TOURISM FOR SUSTAINABLE ECOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE Moderator: Brian Eyler , Director, Southeast Asia Program, Stimson Center Dr.

Shorna Allred , Associate Professor, Conservation Social Sciences and Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University Julia Brennan , Owner, Caring for Textiles The Honorable Glyn Davies , U.S. Ambassador to Thailand (2015-2018) FIRESIDE CHAT: THE DIASPORA AND CULTURAL BRIDGE OF U.S.–MAINLAND SOUTHEAST ASIA TIES Channapha Khamvongsa , Founder and Executive Director, Legacies of War Niphasone Souphom , President, Lao Heritage Foundation KEYNOTE SPEAKER The Honorable James Webb , United States Senator (2007-2013) CLOSING REMARKS Ambassador Stuart W.

Holliday Photo Gallery Sammy Samuels (Managing Director, Myanmar Shalom Travels). Photo: Stephen Bobb. Channapha Khamvongsa (Founder and Executive Director, Legacies of War) and Niphasone Souphom (President, Lao Heritage Foundation). Photo: Stephen Bobb The Meridian Diplomacy Forum: Countries of the Mekong culminated with a celebratory cultural reception, which included Thai fruit carvings. Photo: Stephen Bobb. Brian Eyler (Director, Southeast Asia Program, Stimson Center) and Dr.

Shorna Allred (Associate Professor, Conservation Social Sciences and Southeast Asia Program, Cornell University). Photo: Stephen Bobb. The Honorable James Webb (United States Senator, 2007-2013). Photo: Stephen Bobb Cambodian dancer performing the Robaim Apsara. Photo: Stephen Bobb. See full gallery Coverage of the Diplomacy Forum Voice of Vietnam Yahoo! The Jakarta Post Past Meridian Diplomacy Forums Sports and Cultural Diplomacy Cultural Diplomacy Forum on Cuba Science and Technology Meridian Diplomacy Forum on Japan Diplomacy Forum 2016 Ambassador of Cuba to the United States Dr.

José R. Cabañas, Meridian Diplomacy Forum on Cuba Diplomacy Forum 2017 Member of Parliament of India Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Meridian Diplomacy Forum on India Diplomacy Forum 2018 Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara, Meridian Diplomacy Forum on Japan Project summary Meridian Diplomacy Forum: Countries of the Mekong | June 2019 Number of Attendees: 189 Regions: East Asia and Pacific , Western Hemisphere Countries: Cambodia , Laos , Burma , Vietnam , Thailand , Brazil , Singapore Impact Areas: Business and Trade , Foreign Policy , Sports and Cultural Diplomacy Program Areas: Diplomatic Engagement , Sports and Culture Partners: Diplomatic Corps , Individuals/Donors , NGOs , Private Sector , Public Sector See Program Page .