The Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) is a student-led not-for-profit organization associated with the Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences. HPAIR currently holds two annual conferences that bring together international students and eminent individuals in the fields of academia, politics and business - the Harvard Conference and the Asia Conference.

Established in 1991, HPAIR aims to enable distinguished students to participate in an open forum on Asian and international issues with global leaders in fields ranging from international relations to technology and the fine arts.

HPAIR is an organization run entirely by Harvard University. HPAIR's Asia Conference is Harvard University's largest annual student event in Asia. Since its founding in 1991, HPAIR has held over 40 conferences in locations ranging from Mumbai to Kuala Lumpur.

Harvard Conference The Harvard Conference was first held in 2008 on the Harvard University campus. Each year, up to 600 international students and young professionals come together at the Harvard Conference to explore pertinent issues concerning the Asia region, including equitable access to global health, foreign policy, environmental issues, media, and entrepreneurship. Attendees have the opportunity to discuss these issues in-depth through plenary sessions, panels, seminars, and case studies.

Harvard Conferences by Theme Year Theme 2008 Cosmopolitan Asia: Diversity and Disparity 2009 Linking Minds: Asia in the 21st Century 2010 Asia Ascendant: Seizing New Heights 2011 Looking Back, Forging Ahead: Asia in Pursuit of a Vibrant Future 2012 Cross-Cultural Connections: Weaving New Silk Roads 2013 East Meets West: Sustainable Development in the 21st Century 2014 The Many Faces of Asia: Shaping Identities in a Dynamic World 2015 Asia’s Blueprint for Growth: Building an Inclusive Future 2016 Transcending Borders: Global Cooperation on Emerging Challenges in Asia 2017 Navigating the Future in the Age of Innovation 2018 Innovate 2019 Ignite: Inspiring a New Global Narrative 2020 Striking a balance: Vision of a Conflicted World2021 Embracing Change2022 Finding Our Future

Asia Conference The HPAIR Asia Conference is a 5-day academic program in mid-August in an Asian city. The conference integrates the contents of the academic and business world to create a hybrid structure. Delegates benefit from gaining a broader exposure to issues spanning multiple arenas, including political, social, economic, cultural, and business.

The 2019 Asia Conference was held in Kazakhstan from August 16–20, co-organized by Nazarbayev University in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

There are six conference tracks, namely:

Art, Media & Culture Energy and Environmental Stability Global Markets & the Economy Governance & Geopolitics Science & Technology Social Policy & Justice

The Asia Conference started off in 1992 in Taipei, back then known as the Academic Conference. Bringing together a diverse group of speakers and about 300 graduate and undergraduate students from across the world, the Academic Conference takes the form of six workshops that explore, through research and discussion, issues ranging from environmentalism to cultural trends.

In 2004, HPAIR started the Business Conference, which invited many prominent figures from the world of business, government and law to discuss their understanding of Asia and its place in the global economy with more than 300 business students and young professionals. As of 2012, HPAIR has merged the Academic Conference and the Business Conference into a single conference, the Asia Conference, which brings together 600 pre-eminent young professionals from around the world.

Asia Conference in Previous Years Source: 1992 Taipei, Taiwan International Trade and Investment 1993 British Hong Kong A Free Trade Area for the Pacific Century 1994 Manila, Philippines Economic Cooperation for the Pacific Century 1995 Jakarta, Indonesia Sustaining the Miracle: Challenges Facing Asian Development 1996 Seoul, Korea The Challenges of Globalization: Creating Common Ground in the 21st Century Seoul National University 1997 Bangkok, Thailand Building Nations, Building Communities 1998 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Asia in Transition: Beyond the Miracle 1999 Hong Kong, China Asia at the Crossroads: Rising to the Challenges of Reform The Chinese University of Hong Kong 2000 Beijing, China Diversity and Convergence: Resolving Asia's Role in the Global Community 2001 Singapore Asia and the Knowledge Economy: Opportunities for Progress 2002 Sydney, Australia Traditions and Transformations: New Perspectives of Progress 2003 Seoul, Korea Integration and Innovation: Finding Common Ground for a Dynamic Asia Sookmyung Women's University 2004 Shanghai, China The Once and Future Asia: Expanding Horizons, Historic Transitions 2005 Tokyo, Japan Futuring Asia: Contemporary Challenges and Emerging Realities University of Tokyo 2006 Mumbai, India Harvard College Asian Business Forum 2006 Singapore Redefining Asia: Visions and Realities National University of Singapore 2007 Hong Kong, China Engaging Asia: Competition and Collaboration (Business Conference) University of Hong Kong 2007 Beijing, China Engaging Asia: Discourse and Dialogue (Academic Conference) Students in Beijing 2008 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Emerging into Focus: Asia Incorporated (Business Conference) 2008 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Beyond Borders: Asia on the World Stage (Academic Conference) Universiti Malaya 2009 Tokyo, Japan Braving New Frontiers: Tomorrow’s Ventures Today (Business Conference) Waseda University 2009 Seoul, Korea Evolving Asia: Path-ways in the Global Era (Academic Conference) Sungkyunkwan University 2010 Singapore Sustaining Momentum: Ten Years into the Asian Century Singapore Management University 2011 Seoul, Korea At the Crossroads: Decisions in a Dynamic Asia Yonsei University 2012 Taipei, Taiwan Challenges and Prospects: Envisioning Global Transformations National Chengchi University 2013 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Extending Horizons: Charting Asia's Flourishing Future American University in Dubai 2014 Tokyo, Japan Reflection and Progression: Fostering Mutual Growth Keio University 2015 Manila, Philippines Confronting Asia's Development Challenges Through Innovation De La Salle University 2016 Hong Kong SAR, China Empower The Chinese University of Hong Kong 2017 Sydney, Australia Aspire The University of Sydney 2018 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sustainable Disruption Sunway University 2019 Nur-Sultan, KazakhstanPassion for ChangeNazarbayev University2021 Taipei, TaiwanReinventing with Resilience2022 New Delhi, IndiaIndraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi2023 Hong Kong SAR, China Architects of Asia: Building TomorrowHong Kong University of Science and Technology2024 Bangkok, Thailand Reimagining Connectivity: Building Bridges in a Globalized SocietyChulalongkorn University

Notable Speakers HPAIR conferences are often led by a diverse group of speakers prominent in various areas of society.

Conferences have drawn many top-tier political leaders such as former President of the Republic of Korea Kim Dae-jung, Crown Prince of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah, Finance Secretary of the Republic of the Philippines Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, and President of Singapore S. R. Nathan. The former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea and the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has spoken at an HPAIR conference.

Many speakers also hail from influential international organizations, like the United Nations or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Speakers from ASEAN include the current Secretary-General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan and the former Secretary-General of ASEAN Ong Keng Yong.

HPAIR often invites speakers who are successful in the world of business, like the Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Harvard '81 / HBS '87), CEO of Haier Zhang Ruimin, Chairman of Prudential Asia Victor Fung and President of Goldman Sachs Asia Philip D. Murphy.

References

External links The Harvard College Project for Asian and International Relations Website