US-Asia Institute

Founded in 1979 by Esther G. Kee and Joji Konoshima, the US-Asia Institute is a private, United Nations-associated nongovernmental organization (NGO). It is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit devoted to improving understanding and facilitating conversations between the people and governments of the United States and Asia. USAI is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization with no policy agenda. The US-Asia Institute works directly with 15 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Through conferences, off-the-record briefings, people-to-people exchanges, and ongoing interaction at all levels, USAI has effectively built a bond of trust and mutual respect over the past 43 years and has succeeded in keeping channels for dialogue open. Its leadership includes many with close ancestral, professional, and cultural ties to the region. Our network of political, business, government, and academic leaders here and abroad provides unique insight and access towards these important relationships.