The Second Annual Forum Changing Currents: Innovation and Transformation for the Asia Pacific
The world is increasingly being shaped by economic shifts, climate change, and the continued integration of AI into daily life. Amidst these challenges lie glimmers of collaboration, innovation, and reform, and the best boats will stay afloat by transforming adversity into opportunities for resilience.
CAPRI’s second Annual Forum, co-sponsored by CAPRI USA, brought together leaders and experts from across the Asia Pacific and beyond, including Gov. James Gilmore and Taiwan’s VP-elect Bi-khim Hsiao as keynote speakers, for insightful and exciting discussions on a plethora of topics: US and Taiwan leadership, economic interdependence, sustainability, health and energy policy, AI, disaster preparedness, resilience, and innovation.
Keynote Speakers
Opening Keynote Speaker
James S. Gilmore III
US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (2019–2021)
Virginia’s 68th Governor (1998–2002)
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Ambassador James “Jim” S. Gilmore III is a Former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The US Senate confirmed Mr. Gilmore as U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE on May 23, 2019.
Mr. Gilmore grew up in the Fan District of Richmond, Virginia. In 1971, he enlisted as a volunteer in the U.S. Army after college and worked as a counter-intelligence agent in then-West Germany after intensive language training in German, in which he became fluent. In 1974, he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for Service to NATO. He graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) and earned a B.A. degree in International Relations, Russian Area Studies (1971). He then earned his law degree at the UVA School of Law (1977). He practiced law until 1987 when he was elected as chief prosecutor for Henrico County. In 1993, he was elected Attorney General of Virginia.
In 1997, he was elected as Virginia’s 68th Governor. As governor, his administration established the first Secretary of Technology cabinet position in the nation. During his tenure, Governor Gilmore was focused on creating jobs by leading several trade missions to South America in 1999 (Argentina, Brazil, and Chile), Asia in 2000 (Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan), and Europe in 2001 (Germany, United Kingdom, and Ireland).
During the trade mission to Taiwan and Hong Kong, Governor Gilmore promoted inward investment, opened new markets for Virginia products and services, and encouraged activity in Virginia’s ports. Virginia exported $2.4 billion in products to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong in 1999. Collectively, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong invested over $4.3 billion in Virginia facilities, employing over 12,000 people during his administration.
Mr. Gilmore ran for the GOP nomination for president from July 2015 to February 2016. In November 2018, he was nominated to serve as the U.S. Representative to the United States Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a position which carries the rank of ambassador and is based in Vienna, Austria. His nomination was confirmed by a voice vote of the U.S. Senate on May 23, 2019. Gilmore was sworn in at the U.S. State Department on June 25, 2019, and presented his credentials to the OSCE Secretary General on July 2, 2019. He served until January 2021.
Mr. Gilmore traveled to Ukraine in May 2021 and headed up a delegation. He met with numerous Ukrainian cabinet and national security officials. Other travels have taken him to Israel, Pakistan, Croatia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Peru. Today, he is a Council on Foreign Relations member and serves on the advisory board of the American Foreign Policy Council.
From 1999 to 2003, Mr. Gilmore served as Chairman of the Congressional panel known as the “Gilmore Commission” to assess America’s capabilities to respond to a terrorist attack. Other prominent positions include serving as chairman of the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors. Prior to his USOSCE Ambassadorship, he served as President and CEO of the American Opportunity Foundation, which works to shape the discussions around American society and offer conservative solutions that promise prosperity, national security, and American values. Since leaving office, he has served on several corporate boards of directors. He is married to Roxane Gatling Gilmore, and they have two adult sons and one granddaughter.
Closing Keynote Speaker
Bi-khim Hsiao
Vice President-elect of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
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Bi-khim Hsiao is currently the Vice President-elect of Taiwan. She was elected along with President-elect Lai Ching-te on January 13, 2024, and they will be inaugurated on May 20, 2024.
Previously, Hsiao served as Taiwan’s Representative to the United States from 2020 to 2023. She has also served as a Senior Advisor to the President at Taiwan’s National Security Council.
Vice President-elect Hsiao served four terms in Taiwan’s Legislature, representing overseas citizens for her first term, and then the constituents of Taipei City and Hualien County through different terms. For many years, she was the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and previously the chair of the USA Caucus in the Legislative Yuan.
She began her political career as Director of the Democratic Progressive Party International Affairs Department. After Taiwan’s first democratic change of government in 2000, she became an Adviser at the Office of the President. She was the international spokesperson for all DPP presidential elections between 2000 and 2012.
Vice President-elect Hsiao has taken on numerous leadership roles in international organizations. She was the Chair of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), an organization representing Asian democratic political parties. Between 2005 and 2012, she was elected Vice President of the Bureau of Liberal International (LI), a London-based global political party organization.
She is also a founding Board Member of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Born in Kobe, Japan, Representative Hsiao grew up in Tainan, a city in southern Taiwan. She has an MA in Political Science from Columbia University, New York, and a BA in East Asian Studies from Oberlin College, Ohio.
Date
May 6, 2024
Location
Taipei, Taiwan
Event Recap
Opening Keynote
Can a Divided America Lead in a Fragmented World? The Tension between Internationalism and Isolationism
James S. Gilmore III, Former US Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (2019–2021) and 68th Governor of Virginia (1998–2002)
Economic Dynamism in the Face of US-China Decoupling
Michael Wills, Executive Vice President, National Bureau of Asian Research
Yul Sohn, President, East Asia Institute
Gulshan Sachdeva, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Syaru Shirley Lin, Chair, CAPRI
Moderated by Alison Szalwinski, Vice President of Research, National Bureau of Asian Research
The Impact and Ethics of AI, Satellites, Drones, and Transformative Technologies from Earth to Space
Wei Shyy, Former President, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Bor-Sung Liang, Senior Director, Corporate Strategy & Strategic Technology, MediaTek
Moderated by Margaret Foster Riley, Professor of Law, Public Health Sciences, and Public Policy, University of Virginia
Priorities for a Healthy Asia Pacific with the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience
Jarret Su, Co-Head of Healthcare & Life Science, KPMG in Taiwan
Vita Chien, General Manager, AstraZeneca Taiwan
Moderated by Caroline Fried, Interim Director of Research, CAPRI
Energy Policy and Green Tech for Sustainable Growth
Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation
Grace Liu, Corporate Sustainability Officer, Acer
Nelson Chang, Chairman, Taiwan Cement
Moderated by Alistair Lang, Chief Research Coordinator, CAPRI
Disaster Resilience for Earthquakes, Typhoons, and Tsunamis
Shuhei Nomura, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, Keio University School of Medicine
Steven Pan, Chairman, Silks Hotel Group
Kristoffer Berse, Dean, National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines Diliman
Joe Huang, Director of Lean Planning for Volunteer Development, Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation
Moderated by Jessica Chao, Director of Strategic Planning, CAPRI
Closing Keynote
Can Taiwan Play a Leadership Role in the Asia Pacific?
Bi-khim Hsiao, Vice President-elect of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
