U S Asia Institute

Networking Receptions: The US-Asia Institute kicked off 2024 and its 45th Anniversary Year of its founding with its annual Lunar New Year reception. More than 350 attendees participated from the government, business, academic and diplomatic communities. Courtyard Receptions. In July and September of 2024, the US-Asia Institute hosted Courtyard Receptions utilizing the outdoor space surrounding USAI Headquarters. More than 350 people stopped by. These receptions are integral to USAIs mission of people-to-people interaction to build understanding and keep the lines of communication open. Holiday Luncheon. An in-person holiday luncheon was hosted by USAI in December 2024 to show appreciation for USAI Board Members, Advisory Board counselors, Congressional Circle, and other friends and volunteers who support USAI. 63 people were able to attend in person.

Briefings and Webinars: Most of the US-Asia Institutes programming were in-person event. Those programs that were virtual remained on the Zoom platform, enabling USAI to expand its reach for audience participation and to attract speakers from around the world. In 2024, USAI hosted: China 101 seminars for Congressional staff (in person) ASEAN 101 seminars for Congressional staff (in person) India 101 seminars for Congressional staff (in person) Korea 101 seminars for Congressional staff (in person) Japan 2024 seminars for Congressional Staff (in person; smaller roundtable discussions) Southeast Asia In Focus Webinars (virtually) Northeast Asia In Focus Webinars (virtually) North Korea briefings (virtually and in person)

Delegations: A corporate delegation to South Korea was conducted in October 2024 to provide insight into Koreas plans as the host for APEC 2025. Also the US-Asia Institute welcomed various delegations from Asia including a group of scholars from the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies who participated in a roundtable with Congressional staff, and corporate, academic, and USAI-affiliated friends; a delegation of young rising provincial leaders from the Chinese National Peoples Congress who joined in a discussion with Congressional staff and corporate and academic friends; two delegations of Mongolian mid-career professionals for two separate week-long democracy and leadership training programs; over 125 delegates from the US and China met in Memphis in November 2024 to discuss common issues and challenges facing the Yangtze and the Mississippi River regions.

Diplomatic Programming: US-Asia Relations and the 118th Congress USAI welcomed Asia diplomats to a panel discussion on understanding the new leadership in the House and Senate in regard to US-Asia relations. State Government 101 for Diplomats USAI Congressional Circle member Matt Renninger led a group of diplomats from 10 Asian countries on a trip to Atlanta to see firsthand state government in action and to visit a Congressional District Office, to learn about election integrity from experts at the Carter Center, and to observe a Presidential rally in the lead up to the Georgia Primary Election. Diplomats from the 15 Embassies USAI works with participated in Election 2024 programming which helped them to understand elections for President of the United States, Members of the US Congress, as well as a handful of state and local races and ballot initiatives.

Other Programming: Asia News Brief. Every Monday and Thursday, the US-Asia Institute disseminates a news briefing email to more than 11,000 subscribers providing them with insight into the stories of the day from an Asian news perspective. Asia Unscripted. Asia-focus podcasts are released occasionally addressing interesting and insightful topics of the day Congressional Circle. The USAI Congressional Circle hosted events to engage members of the Circle and to get their ideas for moving forward.