Lowy Institute to partner with Council on Foreign Relations on New York symposium

Lowy Institute experts are in New York this week to participate in an important symposium with the Council on Foreign Relations assessing the Obama administration’s rebalance to Asia.

This annual event, made possible by the generous support of the Hauser Foundation, brings together scholars from Council on Foreign Relations and other prestigious policy institutes and academic institutions to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. Previous partners have included Georgetown University, King's College London and St. Antony's College, Oxford.  

The Lowy Institute’s engagement marks the first time an Australian think tank has been invited to participate in the forum.

Held on Monday 20 April - Tuesday 21 April, the ‘U.S. Rebalance to Asia Symposium’ will bring together  Council on Foreign Relations and Lowy Institute scholars to  discuss newly elected leaders in the region, China’s future, the U.S. alliance system, and the future of Asian regional institutions (see agenda below, including live web broadcast details).

A highlight of the symposium will be the discussion on the US pivot to Asia between Daniel Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Michael Fullilove, Lowy Institute Executive Director (Tuesday 21 April, 8.00 – 9.00am – Australian Eastern Standard Time).

The Lowy Institute delegation is led by Dr Michael Fullilove, Executive Director, and also includes Dr Leon Berkelmanns, International Economy Program Director; Dr Euan Graham, the Institute’s new International Security Program Director; Dr Merriden Varrall, East Asia Program Director; as well as Dr Philippa Brant and Aaron Connelly.

“The Institute is delighted to take up this prestigious opportunity with the Council on Foreign Relations. We look forward to a very engaging two days of discussion on one of the most important foreign policy issues facing Australia and the world,” said Dr Fullilove.

“We at the Council on Foreign Relations are pleased to be partnering with the Lowy Institute for this important symposium. It is a fitting match, given our shared commitment to serious, policy-relevant analysis on global issues. We look forward to welcoming them to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York,” said Council on Foreign Relations President Dr. Richard Haass.

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Media are encouraged to watch the symposium proceedings, which are being live-streamed, via CFR’s website.

Media based in the US: to attend the symposium, register via NYPressRSVP@cfr.org.
 

U.S. Rebalance to Asia Symposium

Full agenda:

Monday, April 20, 2015
Registration: 5:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Opening Session: Perspectives on the Rebalance, 6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Michael Fullilove, Executive Director, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Introductory Remarks: Rita E. Hauser, President, Hauser Foundation;
Chair, International Peace Institute
Presider: Carol Giacomo, Editorial Board Member, New York Times

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Registration: 8:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m.

Panel One: The Future of China, 8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Leon Berkelmans, Director of the International Economy Program and the G20 Studies Centre, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Elizabeth C. Economy, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow and Director for Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Yanzhong Huang, Senior Fellow for Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations
Merriden Varrall, Director of the East Asia Program, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Presider: Joseph Kahn, Foreign Editor, New York Times

Panel Two: Asia's New Leaders, 9:45 a.m.–10:45 a.m.
Alyssa Ayres, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia, Council on Foreign Relations
Aaron L. Connelly, Research Fellow, East Asia Program, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Sheila A. Smith, Senior Fellow for Japan Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Presider: Michael Fullilove, Executive Director, Lowy Institute for International Policy

Panel Three: The Future of the U.S. Alliance System, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Euan Graham, Director, International Security Program, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Sheila A. Smith, Senior Fellow for Japan Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Scott A. Snyder, Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy, Council on Foreign Relations

Lunch: 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Panel Four: The Future of Asian Regional Architecture, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Alyssa Ayres, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia, Council on Foreign Relations
Philippa Brant, Research Associate, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Euan Graham, Director, International Security Program, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Joshua Kurlantzick, Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia, Council on Foreign Relations
Presider: Tim Ferguson, Editor, Forbes Asia

RSVP REQUIRED
Reply by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2015, to NYPressRSVP@cfr.org.
This invitation is only open to active members of the media.

Media inquiries: Jake Meth, 212.434.9537, JMeth@cfr.org