Event Archive

The Montreal International Security Summit was created in 2023 to address some of the most pressing geopolitical issues of our time. The aim of the annual summit is to convene Canadian and international experts to shed light on ongoing crises and to engage in constructive dialogue about the implications for global security and human rights. 

The conference brings together leading practitioners, policymakers, and thought leaders from around the world, all of whom share a common dedication to understanding and resolving contemporary and emerging challenges to human rights and security.

APF Canada's Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla is speaking at this two-day event. 

Click here for more information.

This event will provide Kakehashi alumni with an overview of programs provided by the Government of Japan to facilitate return to Japan for work in the academic field and primarily for study at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Four Japan-Canada Kakehashi Project alumni will speak about their experiences with these programs and provide first-hand information about life in Japanese schools. The presentations will be followed by Q&A.

Presentations:

• The Embassy of Japan in Canada - The JET Programme and MEXT Scholarship Program
• The Japan Foundation, Toronto - Japan Foundation Grants and Fellowships
• Hafsa Hasna Kaouache - JET Programme alumna
• Daniel Yuan Yang Qi - MEXT Scholarship alumnus
• Zachary Bélanger - University exchange alumnus
• Jessica Wing Chen - University exchange participant

Want to learn more about Climate Change in Singapore? Join the Critical Malaya Studies Initiative (York University) and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada as we bring together scholars and policy experts from Singapore to explore exciting opportunities for collaboration on climate change and sustainability advocacy in the region.

This discussion will dive into the pressing implications of climate change in Singapore such as the challenges of green transitions and heightened vulnerabilities for communities. 

Participants will engage in critical conversation with the panellists to understand what it means to build a sustainable future for Singapore and regionally, particularly focusing on transnational advocacy and alternative ways for knowledge mobilization. 

The discussion will also explore how domestic and international actors can support and learn from climate initiatives from Southeast Asia.  

APF Canada's Program Manager, Southeast Asia, Dr. Hema Nadarajah will be participating as a panellist at this event. 

This international seminar is organized by the Taiwan WTO & RTA Center, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, and supported by Taiwan’s Office of Trade Negotiations (Executive Yaun), International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Featuring presentations by representatives from CPTPP members Canada (including APF Canada President & CEO Jeff Nankivell), Japan, Australia, Peru, Mexico, it will bring together domestic and international industry, government, academia, and research sectors to explore the benefits of the CPTPP for the economic development and supply chain resilience of various economies in the context of changing geopolitical dynamics, as well as the significance of continued membership expansion.

The aim of this seminar in Taipei is to demonstrate Taiwan's proactive spirit of "Taiwan can contribute. Taiwan is ready," foster national consensus, and expand international support for its applications to accede to the trade bloc.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is currently one of the most advanced and liberalized trade agreements. With 12 member economies accounting for approximately 15% of global GDP and 5.9% of the world's population, the CPTPP plays a significant role in promoting global and Asia Pacific regional economic integration.

APF Canada’s President & CEO Jeff Nankivell will participate in a panel (In response to international geopolitics, the significance of the CPTPP to the development and resilience of various countries around the world) and a roundtable discussion (Challenges and prospects of Taiwan's application to join the CPTPP & recommendations for Taiwan).

Encore Video Presentation (APF Canada President & CEO Jeff Nankivell's interventions at 1:12 and 4:30 marks) 

On behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), APF Canada is pleased to invite Kakehashi alumni to a special online event. Okinawa’s second largest island, Iriomote is one of Japan’s best-kept secrets. Home to stunning natural beauty, Iriomote offers a unique blend of lush mangrove forests, crystal-clear waterfalls and rivers, pristine beaches, coral reefs teeming with marine life, and the rare Iriomote wildcat—an endangered species found only on the island.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2021, the island is a paradise for eco-tourism and outdoor activities and connection with Japan’s unspoiled wilderness. Whether you’re a nature lover, an adventurer, or just looking for a serene escape, Iriomote guarantees an unforgettable experience.

While India, in its 75-year existence as an independent state, has achieved much in fulfilling the dreams of Nehru and his successors to obtain major power status, why is this quest still unfinished? 

Along with the meteoric rise of China, there has been much interest in this question and in the emergence of India as a rising power. The rapidly developing U.S.-China rivalry has also given India an added importance in world politics with many viewing the country as a significant 'swing power' that can help balance China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Certainly, India’s current leadership, under Narendra Modi, and the Indian public, believe that the country is destined to be a global power.

In this APF Canada partnered event, Professor T.V. Paul will discuss the rise of India and what are the external and internal constraints in the pursuit of major power status that India must contend with. As Professor Paul will argue, the development of an inclusive, tolerant democracy that can utilize its most priced asset, the demographic dividend, will be essential for India to gain greater international status and influence in the 21st century.

About the Speaker

T.V. Paul is Distinguished James McGill Professor in the Department of Political Science at McGill University, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Distinguished Fellow at Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. He also served as the President of the International Studies Association for 2016-17 and is the Founding Director of the Global Research Network on Peaceful Change. 

Paul is the author or editor of 24 books and over 80 scholarly articles/book chapters in the fields of International Relations, International Security, and South Asia. His books include The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi, Restraining Great Powers: Soft Balancing from Empires to the Global Era, and The Warrior State: Pakistan in the Contemporary World. Paul currently serves as the editor of the Georgetown University Press book series: South Asia in World Affairs.

APF Canada's sponsored film: Grand Tour. Screenings on September 26 and September 30. 

Our Vice President of Research and Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, is a discussant during a session titled, China’s Long-term Global Strategy.
 

Join APF Canada for a discussion with Representative Harry Tseng of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, on the topics of Taiwan's strengths in supply chain resilience, automotive chip technology, and AI advancements.

Dr. Harry Tseng is the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, a role he has held since August 2022. Dr. Tseng has a long history of serving in high-level diplomatic positions within Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

He was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2020 to 2022, Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council (2016-2017), and Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the President (2016). He has also served as the Representative to the European Union and Belgium, Representative to Palau, Representative to Ireland, and Director General of MOFA's Department of North American Affairs.

The event will be held in Downtown Vancouver. Register your interest (subject to capacity) here.

The Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival (VTWFF) is back this September! 

This live event will allow audiences to enjoy some of the latest, high-calibre Taiwanese films. 

2024 TWFF brings Taiwan to local audiences through four carefully curated films that span multiple topics and genres exploring the diversity of Taiwanese culture.

On behalf of the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), APF Canada is pleased to invite all Canadian Kakehashi Project alumni to the first virtual event of the 2024-25 program year: Lights! Drama! Action! – The Kuji Autumn Festival.

Dating back over 650 years, the festival is the largest in Iwate Prefecture and features large, highly decorated handmade floats paraded through the streets of Kuji. The event includes an introduction to Kuji City and the Autumn Festival, showcasing past festivals and floats. There will also be a live broadcast from the float decoration site, where you can see the intricate prep work in action.

This is an invitation-only event open to Japan-Canada Kakehashi Project alumni.   

This discussion, with Canadian Minister of Defence, The Hon. Bill Blair, will focus on Canada’s partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting its strategic approach and collaborative efforts in this geopolitically vital region. 

The discussion aims to provide a platform for a robust exchange of ideas and perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding of the regional security dynamics and enhancing co-operation between Canada and regional actors.

Encore Livestream Presentation:

ABAC Canada/APF Canada, in partnership with ABAC Singapore and SG Tech, is co-hosting a digital innovation event on the sidelines of the third APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting in Tokyo, Japan. 

The event brings together ABAC members, business leaders from 21 APEC economies, and members of the Digital Trust Advisory, a consortium of global visionaries, thought leaders, and luminaries who provide expert insights on technology, digital policy, and governance. Together they will discuss issues of digital trust, particularly in relation to AI regulation, commercialization, and its impact on people, business, and prosperity in APEC.  

Guests will hear a keynote address from The Hon. Minister Taro Kono, Japan’s Minister for Digital Transformation, participate in an expert AI-themed panel discussion, and a roundtable discussion with ABAC and Advisory Members to deliberate on critical digital ‘now and next’ priorities for APEC. 

The event will conclude with a statement to APEC Leaders and Ministers Responsible for the Digital Economy.

 The North Pacific is of considerable strategic importance to Canada and its allies. Canada has been present in the region for many years, contributing to regional peace and security through various forms of engagement. As the North Pacific region undergoes significant strategic changes due to geopolitical, environmental and technological factors, Canada must strengthen its cooperation with its allies in the region.

This event is being held in conjunction with the annual planning conference organized by Maritime Forces Pacific, which aims to coordinate future operations with counterparts from the "Five Eyes Plus" navies.  

The panel will bring together foreign policy experts and defense practitioners from government, the military and academia to discuss Canada's defense and security contributions to the North Pacific, and strategies for continued engagement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has returned to a historic third consecutive term in office – albeit with a weaker mandate. Modi 3.0 will encounter many opportunities and challenges as India strives to maintain a pre-eminent role in its neighbourhood and advances its geopolitical stature amid escalating great power competition. 

Notwithstanding its developmental challenges, the country also seeks to harness its demographic dividend and become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027. Join us as we decode these and other complex issues and unpack how Modi’s diminished victory will shape India’s trajectory as a rising power. 

Speakers:

Dr. Rahul Mukherji, Professor & Head of the Political Science Department,   South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University

Dr. Aparna Pande, Research Fellow & Director of the India Initiative, Hudson Institute

Moderator:

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-president, Research & Strategy,   Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Image credit: X via Bharatiya Janata Party (under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license)

Video Encore Presentation

Changing geopolitical environment and competitions among the great powers present new challenges for Mongolia’s pursuit of its third neighbour strategy, which aims to develop close political, economic, and cultural ties with developed democracies. 

The purpose of this dialogue, which started last year focusing on Indo-Pacific strategies and Mongolia, is to create a platform for members of the academic and policy communities of Mongolia and Third Neighbours to exchange views on the changing geopolitical environment and critically review challenges and opportunities.  

The first dialogue (June 2023) welcomed participants from Australia, Canada, France, Poland, South Korea, and the United States. This year's focus is on geoeconomics.

APF Canada's Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla will be speaking at the event.

The Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security (UBD) has been held regularly since 2014 to contribute to the establishment of a dialogue mechanism within the region. However, due to the pandemic, the conference was canceled in 2020 and 2021 and resumed in 2022. 

The international conference is not only in line with the Foreign Policy Concept of Mongolia but also highlights Mongolia’s historical tradition of multilateral co-operation efforts. The conference has been co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for Strategic Studies of the National Security Council of Mongolia. 

UBD2024 will be held in Ulaanbaatar from June 6-7, 2024. The conference consists of the following sessions:

Session One: Northeast Asian Security Challenges and Opportunities 
Session Two: Multilateral Cooperation in Northeast Asia 
Session Three: Climate change and Security challenges in Northeast Asia 
Session Four: Secure and affordable energy transition in Northeast Asia 
Session Five: Developing Sustainable and Resilient Value Chains for Critical Energy Transition Minerals

APF Canada's Vice-president Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla will be speaking at Session Two. 

Organized by the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, this briefing session aims to delve into Canada's evolving geopolitical strategies and foreign policies, particularly focusing on its engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) within the broader context of the Indo-Pacific region.

REGISTER HERE

The discussion, on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, will explore Canada's interests, challenges, and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to fostering partnerships with ASEAN countries. The event seeks to provide insights into Canada's geopolitical priorities, its approach to multilateralism, and the significance of ASEAN in its foreign policy agenda. Through expert analysis and dialogue, participants will gain a deeper understanding of Canada's role in the Indo-Pacific and the prospects for enhancing cooperation with ASEAN member states.

APF Canada's Vice-President Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, will be speaking at this event.

Key Topics:

• Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy: An overview of Canada's strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, including economic opportunities, security concerns, and diplomatic initiatives.
   
• ASEAN's role and importance: Understanding ASEAN's role as a regional organization and its significance as a key player in shaping the Indo-Pacific dynamics.
   
• Canada-ASEAN Relations: Examining the historical context of Canada's engagement with ASEAN and analyzing current diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between Canada and ASEAN member states.
   
• Challenges and Opportunities: Identifying the challenges and opportunities in deepening Canada's engagement with ASEAN within the Indo-Pacific framework, including economic integration, security cooperation, and cultural exchange.
   
• Multilateral Cooperation: Exploring avenues for enhanced multilateral cooperation between Canada, ASEAN, and other regional stakeholders to address common challenges such as climate change, maritime security, and economic development.

This briefing promises to delve into crucial geopolitical dynamics shaping our world today. We invite you to seize this opportunity to broaden your understanding, engage in insightful discussions, and expand your professional network among industry leaders. Your presence at this event is highly anticipated, and we look forward to welcoming you for an enriching and thought-provoking experience.

Tentative Agenda:

1:00 - 1:05 PM: Opening remarks by Wayne Farmer, CABC President

1:05 - 1:45 PM: Discussion on Canada's evolving geopolitical strategies and foreign policies on ASEAN in the context of the Indo-Pacific Strategy

1:45 - 2:10 PM: Q&A with audience

2:10 - 2:30 PM: Open networking

Presenters:

Vina Nadjibulla
Vice-President, Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
(Moderator)

Indu Saxena
Senior Fellow and Chief Operating Officer, Consortium of Indo-Pacific Researchers, New Jersey, USA
(Volume Co-Editor)

Stephen Nagy
Professor, International Christian University (Japan) and Senior Fellow, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
(Volume Co-Editor)

Event Overview:

The May 23 webinar, titled “Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific Construct,” featured insights from Dr. Indu Saxena and Dr. Stephen Nagy, moderated by Vina Nadjibulla. The discussion focused on the two scholars’ newly published book, which examines Southeast Asian countries’ roles within the Indo-Pacific, considering the competition in the region between the U.S. and China. Dr. Saxena highlighted the book’s goal of capturing diverse regional perspectives and emphasized Southeast Asia’s economic aspirations and strategic independence. The book explores how these countries balance their relationships with both the U.S. and China to maintain independence and meet national interests, using examples like China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the U.S.’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). 

Dr. Nagy discussed the main findings of the book, emphasizing the region’s diversity and the importance of understanding local dynamics. He noted that while public statements often reflect neutrality, there are private concerns about Chinese influence. He stressed the value of smaller partnerships like the Quad and AUKUS in providing regional security and public benefits. He used Vietnam’s balanced engagement with multiple global powers and the Philippines' trilateral summit with the U.S. and Japan to show how these countries are navigating their strategic positions. 

The Q&A session covered several regional issues, including ASEAN’s multilateral engagements and the strategic importance of smaller partnerships. Dr. Saxena talked about the proactive stance of the Philippines in the South China Sea and the challenges ASEAN faces in maintaining unity due to diverse member interests. Dr. Nagy addressed South Korea’s New Southern Policy and its increasing presence in Southeast Asia, as well as the complex impacts of the Middle East conflict on U.S. relations with Muslim-majority Southeast Asian countries. Both speakers highlighted the region’s focus on economic security and resilience, advocating for sustainable and reliable partnerships, particularly in energy security and critical minerals. The discussion concluded with a look toward future research, including a planned second volume addressing multi-alignment strategies and structural trends in the region. 

Video Encore Presentation