DELEGATIONS AND EXCHANGES
Congressional member and staff delegations and exchange programs between the United States and Asian countries have long been a key priority for USAI. These delegations serve to actively immerse participants in issues on US-Asia relations and create links between the legislators in the United States and their counterparts in Asia. The trips allow them to gain firsthand experiences in Asian countries, candidly exchange views on all topics of mutual interest, clarify misconceptions on Asia, and be exposed to the cultural and historical aspects of Asia. Through high-level meetings with government officials, top scholars, and business leaders, these visits increase awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the host country, its people and its policies.
Under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (MECEA) guidelines and in cooperation with the host countries, USAI has organized over 140 trips to China, 15 to Japan, and a number of delegations to South Korea and the ASEAN nations. Themes for these delegations have included trade, non-proliferation, environmental protection, energy, rule of law, regional and global security, economic development, terrorism, poverty alleviation, and artificial intelligence. USAI has also led business and industry-specific missions. Learn more about USAI’s Congressional delegations here.
USAI welcomes visiting delegations to the US from across Asia. Delegations visiting the Washington, DC metropolitan area will be able to meet with Members of Congress and Congressional Staff, academic scholars, business leaders, and officials from the Administration. Please note vis-a-vis delegations that we organize not host; the foreign government is the host inside their respective countries.
Currently, the Institute hosts a Mongolia IMPACT! Leadership and Democracy Training Program where future leaders from Mongolia learn about campaigning, media, leadership, and democracy-building from industry experts. Learn more about the IMPACT! Mongolia Program here.
BRIEFINGS, CONFERENCES, AND RECEPTIONS
The US-Asia Institute hosts off-the-record briefings, seminars, presentations and roundtable discussions with experts from the Washington area and abroad. The audiences for these discussions include young professionals, Congressional advisors, foreign guests, business leaders, and academic experts. USAI often hosts these briefings on Capitol Hill, including an annual 101 series geared specifically towards Congressional staff. Learn more about the Congressional 101 series here.
The US-Asia Institute has organized eight National Leadership Conferences in cooperation with the US Department of State. These international policy forums have facilitated interaction among leading public and private sector leaders from the United States, China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), as well as others from around the globe.
Receptions are held at the Institute for foreign delegations, Congressional delegation reunions, and gala events. These receptions are opportunities for USAI guests to engage in candid discussions, build networks of trust and mutual respect, and foster greater understanding of US-Asia relations.
PROGRAMS
Programs at USAI are designed with education, exchange, and leadership in mind. The Institute aims to equip students, policy makers, advisors, and other interested parties with the tools they need to effectively engage in the US-Asia relationship. These goals are not only integral to the US-Asia Institute’s success but the success of US-Asia relations.
The US-Asia Institute’s key programs are its Rule of Law Program, Internship Program, ASEAN Diaspora Youth Development Program, IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans, and Mongolian-U.S. National Civic Engagement Program.
The J. Matthew Szymanski Rule of Law Exchange Programs seek to give Chinese and US students exposure to the institutions and officials of, respectively, the US and Chinese government and legal systems. Learn more here.
Our Internship Program gives hands-on experience for students interested in the field of US-Asian affairs. Through education and exchange, it is our goal to help interns become future leaders. USAI also hosts a Professional Development Program to promote exchange and research among select Asian leaders from the business, political and academic communities. Learn about our openings here.
The ASEAN Diaspora Youth Development Program (AYDP) is a nine-week professional development program created by the US-Asia Institute (USAI). It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for individuals of the ASEAN diaspora aged 18-25 years old to come to Washington D.C. to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system and engage civically and reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening American relations with their respective countries. Learn more here.
The IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans is a professional development program created by the US-Asia Institute (USAI) – is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Filipino-American young adults to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system in Washington DC, to engage civically, and to reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening the US-Philippine relationship. Learn more here.
The Mongolian - U.S. National Civic Engagement Program (MUNCEP) is a 9-week professional development program created by the US-Asia Institute (USAI) in coordination with the Embassy of Mongolia in Washington, DC. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Mongolian American or permanent resident young adults to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system in Washington DC, to engage civically, and to reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening the US-Mongolia relationship. Learn more here.
