Forum unites Pan-Asian diplomats

Forum unites Pan-Asian diplomats

The Ambassadors’ Forum brings diplomats from across the Asia-Pacific region to gather and collaborate.

By Sarah Linders

June 29, 2018

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[queen's university summerhill ambassador's forum]
Queen’s representatives and international ambassadors pose together in front of Summerhill, a yearly tradition after the Ambassadors’ Forum. (University Communications)

The Ambassadors’ Forum at Benidickson House brings diplomats from a dozen countries in the Asia-Pacific region to Queen’s to connect, share ideas, and learn.

“This forum is a model for how academics and diplomats can work together to further cultural diplomacy between regions,” said Principal Daniel Woolf during his welcome to the delegates to the forum. “We have international aspirations at Queen’s, and are particularly focused on very good relations with the Asia-Pacific region. We’re also very interested in inter-disciplinary experiential research and student mobility in that region.”

The annual event, which began in 2003, is a chance for Queen’s to bring together ambassadors and high commissioners from countries such as Australia, China, India, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand to share international education perspectives, announce partnerships that have been agreed on throughout the year, and discuss issues of relevance as a group.

This year, the forum featured a talk by Dr. James McKay, Assistant Professor of Political Science with the Royal Military College, on “Global Security in the Trump Era”.

In addition to the principal, Queen’s representatives at the forum included Cynthia Fekken, Associate Vice-Principal (Research) and Ryan Rodrigues, Associate Vice-Principal (Alumni Relations and Annual Giving).

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“I must thank Hok-Lin Leung for his significant help with fostering this international initiative. Dr. Leung recognized the merit and opportunity of linking this very important diplomatic community,” said Dr. Woolf during his welcome speech. Dr. Leung, Professor Emeritus and former director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning, acts as the organizer of the forum. (University Communications)