Civil Service College organises fourth seminar in Executive Series on “Connecting with the World – ASEAN” (with photos)

     The Civil Service College (CSC) has launched the Executive Series on "Connecting with the World – ASEAN". The fourth seminar in the series, on the topic of "Different Paths to Prosperity in ASEAN Economies", was delivered by Professor Krislert Samphantharak of the School of Global Policy and Strategy of the University of California San Diego at the CSC today (June 20).

     Addressing the seminar, the Head of the CSC, Mr Oscar Kwok, said that Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have distinct cultural identities shaped by their histories, ethnic compositions, and religions, leading to significant differences in societal norms, values and practices. They also vary widely in terms of development levels, industrialisation and economic structures. ASEAN's diversity across cultural, economic, political, and social dimensions underscores the importance of a nuanced understanding and tailored approaches in regional co-operation.

     More than 140 civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks from 45 bureaux/departments attended the seminar today, including officers from Hong Kong, and from Mainland Offices and overseas Economic and Trade Offices of the Government in Beijing, Bangkok, Berlin, Brussels, Dubai, Geneva, Singapore, and Washington, DC, who joined the seminar via video conferencing.

     The Executive Series on "Connecting with the World – ASEAN" is designed to further broaden the international perspective of directorate and senior civil servants. It covers subjects pertaining to the changing international dynamics and the development of ASEAN countries, including economies of emerging markets, opportunities and challenges from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the role and positioning of ASEAN, and diversity of ASEAN economies. Prominent experts are invited to speak and engage in in-depth discussions with participants.