Media Advisory - ASEAN in Asia's Rise: Southeast Asia's Place in an Asia Strategy for Canada - Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary General, at Canada's IDRC

OTTAWA, Sept. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will be at Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) September 20, 2012.  The Secretary General will discuss Canada-ASEAN relations from an ASEAN perspective, including how the relationship has evolved since his appointment in 2008. He will also speak about ASEAN priority issues in light of the goal of regional integration by 2015 through the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community.

When: Thursday, September 20, 2012 from 3:30 p.m. -  5:00 p.m.
Where: IDRC, 150 Kent Street (Corner of Albert), 8th floor

Canada became a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 1977. ASEAN is an organization of 10 Southeast Asian countries that works to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region.  The relationship with ASEAN is a priority for Canada. Over the past 35 years, Canada and ASEAN cooperation has included issues of political security, regional integration, economic cooperation, and counterterrorism, among others. In 2009, Canada appointed an ambassador to ASEAN for the first time.

An accomplished scholar, diplomat, journalist, and politician, Surin Pitsuwan began his term as Secretary-General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on January 1, 2008.   He served in several key positions in the Thai government after first being elected Member of Parliament in 1986, including Minister of Foreign Affairs.  He has written for two daily English language newspapers in Bangkok and taught at Bangkok's Thammasat University where he became Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. He has also taught at American University in Washington, DC.  Surin worked in the US Congress as a Congressional Fellow and at the American Political Science Association. He has held positions at the Institute of Thai Studies, the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Harvard University, and the American University, Cairo. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of The Asia Foundation, member of the Commission on Human Security, and special advisor to International Crisis Group.  Surin last visited Canada in June 2010 during the G8 and G20 Summits in Toronto, in his capacity as ASEAN Secretary-General.

The event is open to the media and the lecture will be webcast live at http://idrc.canwebcast.net/test.  Journalists and the public can also join in the conversation through Twitter #IDRC and Facebook.

For more information visit www.idrc.ca.

About IDRC
A key part of Canada's aid program, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most. 

SOURCE: International Development Research Centre

Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé / ([phone] / [email protected] / @IDRC_CRDI