The United States and Japan:Assisting Myanmar’s Development

Dear Friends:

Sasakawa USA cordially invites you to join us for a conference to discuss US-Japan joint cooperation in assisting Myanmar's development on Wednesday, March 25th from 8:30am-6:00pm. Our speakers will include Derek Mitchell, U.S. Ambassador to Burma, and Admiral Dennis Blair, former commander of U.S. Pacific Command and CEO of Sasakawa USA.

This event will identify actionable projects and activities for governmental and non-governmental groups in Japan and the United States, working individually and together, to help Myanmar. The panels will focus on current conditions in Myanmar, ongoing Japanese and U.S. assistance programs in the country, and the primary remaining challenges in Myanmar's transition to a prosperous, democratic state. We will strive to increase understanding in the Washington policy community of the importance of assisting Myanmar's development, foster greater public awareness of Myanmar itself, and the potential for U.S.-Japan joint cooperation.

We hope that you are able to join us at the Cosmos Club on Wednesday, March 25th from 8:30am-6:00pm. Please note that the dress code at the Cosmos Club is formal (jackets and ties for men; suits or clothing of equivalent formality for women).

Agenda

8:30 Registration

9:00 Welcome

Junko Chano, President, Sasakawa USA and Executive Director, SPF

9:05 Keynote Address

Admiral Dennis Blair, Chairman and CEO, Sasakawa

9:30 Panel I Socio-Economic Conditions in Myanmar

Chair: Daniel Bob, Senior Fellow and Director of Programs, Sasakawa USA

Presentation: Dr. Zaw Oo, Executive Director of Myanmar Development Resource Institute’s Center for Economic and Social Development

Presentation: Dr. Toshihiro Kudo, Director-General, Research Planning Department, Institute for Developing Economies

Presentation: Vikram Nehru, Senior Associate, Asia Program Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

11:00 Panel II Japanese and U.S. Assistance Programs in Myanmar

Chair: Dr. Donald Seekins, Professor of Southeast Asian Studies, Meio University

Presentation: H.E. U Set Aung, Deputy Governor Central Bank of Myanmar

Presentation: Takehiro Yasui, Director in charge of Myanmar Operations at JICA

Presentation: Jason Foley, Deputy Assistant Administrator for East Asia, USAID

Presentation: Yun Sun, Fellow, East Asia Program, Henry E. Stimson Center

12:15 Luncheon

12:30 Luncheon Address

Hon. Derek Mitchell, U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar

Moderator: H.E U Kyaw Myo Htut, Myanmar Ambassador to the USA

1:15 Panel III Civil-Military Relations in Myanmar

Chair: Adm. Dennis Blair, Chairman and CEO, Sasakawa USA

Presentation: Dr. Aung Myoe, Professor, Graduate School of International Relations, International University of Japan

Presentation: Dr. Mary Callahan, Associate Professor, University of Washington

Presentation: Lt. Gen. Noboru Yamaguchi, National Defense Academy

2:45 Panel IV Democratization and Multi-Ethnic Issues

Chair: Dr. David Steinberg, Visiting Scholar, Southeast Asia Studies Program Johns Hopkins

Presentation: Brian Joseph, Senior Director for Asia and Global Programs, National Endowment for Democracy

Presentation: Priscilla Clapp, former chief of mission, U.S. Embassy Burma

4:00 Keynote Address: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Invited)

4:45 Panel V Next Steps for U.S.-Japan Cooperation in Myanmar

Chair: Adm. Dennis Blair, Chairman and CEO, Sasakawa USA

Presentation: Thant Myint-U (Invited) Founder and Chairman Yangon Heritage Trust

Presentation: Kanji Yamanouchi, Economic Minister, Embassy of Japan

Presentation: Dr. David Steinberg, Visiting Scholar, Southeast Asia Studies Program, Johns Hopkins University

Presentation: James Schoff, Senior Associate, Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

5:30 Cocktails

A bit of news from Sasakawa USA:

In the past year, Sasakawa USA has undergone significant transformation to become a premier think tank dedicated to research, analysis and better public understanding of U.S.-Japan relations. Under the leadership of Admiral Dennis Blair, USN (ret.), Chairman and CEO, Sasakawa USA has reinvigorated its research and education programs as well as expanded its team to include eight new employees who are experts in each of their fields. Our offices have received a face lift as well, come visit us for the grand tour!