Meridian Diplomacy Forum: Countries of the Mekong

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.

Forum Speakers

Dr. Shorna Allred

Associate Director of the Center for Conservation Social Sciences

Julia Brennan

Founder of Caring For Textiles

The Honorable Mark Clark

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Southeast Asia in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the U.S. State Department

Ambassador Glyn Davies

Former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand

Brian Eyler

Senior Fellow and Director of Stimson’s Southeast Asia Program

Verinda Fike

Regional Director for South & Southeast Asia for the U.S. Trade and Development Agency

The Honorable Stuart W. Holliday

CEO @ Meridian

Boosara Kanchanalai

Former Minister to the Royal Thai Embassy

Channapha Khamvongsa

Founder and Executive Director of Legacies of War

Scott Kicker

Founder and CEO @ Gen X Energy

His Excellency Aung Lynn

Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Erin Murphy

Founder and Principal of Inle Advisory Group

His Excellency Ha Kim Ngoc

Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran

Senior Editor at The Washington Diplomat

The Honorable Randall Schriver

Assistant Secretary of Defense for IndoPacific Security Affairs

His Excellency Chum Sounry

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Cambodia

Niphasone Souphom

President, Lao Heritage Foundation

The Honorable James Webb

Former Senator, Virginia

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.

Coverage of the Diplomacy Forum

• Voice of Vietnam
• Yahoo!
• The Jakarta Post

Past Meridian Diplomacy Forums

Cultural Diplomacy

Cultural Diplomacy Forum on Cuba

Cultural Diplomacy

Cultural Diplomacy Forum on India

Science and Technology

Meridian Diplomacy Forum on Japan

Diplomacy Forum 2016

Diplomacy Forum 2017

Diplomacy Forum 2018