Chiang Mai (Thailand) Delegation MOU Signing Celebration and Cultural Festival
2023-11-12 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Wat Buddhananachat, 8105 Linden Road, Del Valle, TX, 78617, United States
Attend this public celebration of the official Memorandum of Understanding linking Chiang Mai with Austin. Attendees will be able to meet the visiting delegates from Chiang Mai as well as enjoy the food and culture of Thailand.
No RSVPs required.

Business2Business Opportunity with Thailand
2023-11-13 14:00 - 17:00 | Capital Factory, 701 Brazos Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
In collaboration with the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce, and Capital Factory Austin, we invite you to an International Market Series Reception fostering business connections with Thailand.
The event features opportunities to connect with a Thai business delegation led by Lisa A. Buzenas, Consul General, United States Consulate General Chiang Mai. The delegation includes representatives from the Federation of Thai Industries Chiang Mai Chapter, the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, Chiang Mai University Science and Technology Park, and prominent cultural and business leaders representing renewable energy companies, food industries, tech entrepreneurs, and more.

Agenda
2:00 pm: Registration & Networking
2:15 pm: Welcome Remarks & Introductions
2:30 pm: The benefits of doing business in Austin and Central Texas
3:00 pm: Startup Pitches
3:25 pm: GAACC – Serve Local. Think Global.
3:30 pm: B2B Networking
4:00 pm: Open Networking
4:50 pm: Closing Remarks

China Townhall
2023-12-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
Join us for a captivating China Town Hall event cohosted by the World Affairs Council of Austin and San Antonio, set to take place on December 2nd at Texas State University. Immerse yourself in an afternoon of insightful discussions and engaging presentations by well-accomplished industry experts and scholars who bring a wealth of knowledge about China’s dynamic landscape. After the China Town Hall, we invite you to join us for a post-event social at the local Ivar’s River Pub.
China Town Hall Details:
Date: December 2nd, 1 pm-3 pm
Location: Texas State University, McCoy College of Business- Room 125
601 University Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
Post-Town Hall Social:
Continue the conversation and networking at Ivar’s River Pub for a post-town hall social. Share your thoughts, connect with fellow attendees, and enjoy a relaxing atmosphere by the river.
Date: December 2nd, 3 pm
Location: Ivar’s River Pub – 701 Cheatham St, San Marcos, TX 78666

Speakers Include:
Justin Payne: VP of Frost Bank in San Marcos & Board Chair of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce.
Nicholas Burns: Ambassador Burns has had a distinguished career in American diplomacy, serving six U.S. Presidents and nine Secretaries of State over 27 years. His State Department roles include the State Department’s third-ranking official and most senior career diplomat, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, U.S. Ambassador to Greece, and State Department spokesman. Before that, he worked at the National Security Council at the White House, where he served as Special Assistant to President Clinton and Senior Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Affairs and as Director for Soviet Affairs for President George H.W. Bush during the collapse of the USSR.
[Ambassador Burns will not be present, but will offer opening remarks via a pre-recorded message]
Tyler Johnson: Founder of Laowai Enterprises & Global Fortune 50 Executive, shares his wealth of experience from years spent in Shanghai, China, while working for Dell Technologies. He led sales and operational organizations for Dell within China and across Asia, and his organization was responsible for Dell’s Global Asia Business Unit, which represented the largest companies in the world (Global Fortune 500).
Gina Tam, Ph.D.: Associate Professor of Modern Chinese History and co-director of Women and Gender Studies at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She is also a Public Intellectual Fellow at the National Committee on US-China Relations, a Wilson Center China Fellow, and the Book Review Editor for the Journal of Asian Studies. She completed her Ph.D. in modern Chinese history at Stanford University in 2016.
Xiaobo Lü, Ph.D.: Associate Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Lü’s research focuses on how fiscal policies are distributed in authoritarian regimes, with a particular emphasis on China. In 2011, Dr. Lü earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University. Currently, he is engaged in several paper projects concentrating on the correlation between fiscal extraction and state-society relations, as well as a book project focused on party building in authoritarian regimes.
Liza L.S. Mark: Partner, Chief Representative and Shanghai Office Managing Partner. With over two decades of legal expertise across the U.S., Hong Kong, and Shanghai, her key figures lie in private equity, securities, and cross-border M&A. Her proficiency lies in advising private equity clients on international investments, skillfully navigating legal complexities across jurisdictions. Liza is well-versed in diverse financing transactions, including SPAC acquisitions, PIPEs, and Hong Kong IPOs. Her sought-after counsel extends to foreign private issuers for U.S. and Hong Kong securities offerings, coupled with strategic insights into corporate governance and compliance.

Asia x Austin International Market Summit
2024-03-12 13:30 - 20:30 | Austin Central Library, 710 West Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Explore exciting business opportunities between Central Texas and some of Asia’s most dynamic and innovative markets.
Experience the two-way highway of opportunity between Asia and the Greater Austin region.
Learn what’s next in AI, blockchain, the Metaverse, clean energy, and more.
Plug into the startup landscapes in Asia and Central Texas.
Meet the leaders forging new, bilateral business ecosystems.

Agenda
Schedule and details are subject to change.
1:30 pm: Check-in, Refreshments, and Networking
2:00 pm: Welcome Session
– Regional Governments Welcome
– Central Texas Asian Population Landscape & Economic Impact
– Central Texas Economic Outlook & Forecast
2:30 pm: Business in Central Texas & Austin
– Business Opportunities in Central Texas
– Regional Development Partners Introduction
– Talent Ecosystem & Workforce Development
3:00 pm: Asian Markets Briefings
Connect directly with economic and business leaders from Asia’s most powerful markets:
– Singapore
– Hong Kong
– Malaysia
– Korea
– India
– Indonesia
(tentative lineup)
4:30 pm: Asia x Austin Innovation Ecosystem
– Asian Startup Pitch Sessions
– Greater Austin’s Startup Landscape (introducing local investors, VCs, incubators, etc.)
6:30 pm: Networking Party

Afghanistan: Where are we now and what’s next?
2024-04-02 17:30 - 19:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
In 2021, the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. What followed was a period of turmoil, as they turned on those who were in the Administration of President Ashraf Ghani or supported it. Then, there was the diaspora of those associated with the Americans in any capacity. Rangina Hamidi, who served as the first female Minister of Education for the country in 30 years, was among those who were forced to flee. Please join us as she provides an update on the status/situation in Afghanistan in 2024. Ms. Hamidi will also provide her insights as to what the future holds for the Taliban regime and Afghanistan.

Rangina Hamidi
Rangina Hamidi is an Afghan American writer, educator, social entrepreneur, and politician who served as Afghanistan’s minister of education until August 2021. She was the first cabinet-level, female minister of education to hold that position in thirty years. Ms. Hamidi works tirelessly to advocate for women’s rights by empowering girls and women through social entrepreneurship and other initiatives to build their lives.
She earned a BA with a double major in religious studies and gender studies at the University of Virginia. She later completed an MA in Global Affairs and Management at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Ms. Hamidi is currently a professor at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona
She has contributed to numerous publications and radio programs, including TIMES Asia Magazine, The Globe and Mail, Der Spiegel, Business Week, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, NPR, BBC, and Voice of America. Ms. Hamidi has co-authored “Embroidering within Boundaries: Afghan Women Creating a Future,” which takes the reader on a pictorial journey into her own life and tells the stories of the courageous Afghan women she serves.

South Korea on the World’s Stage
2024-07-18 17:30 - 19:00 | Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel Street, Austin, TX, 78705, United States
On June 4th and 5th South Korea held its first ever Korea-Africa Summit. They hosted representatives from 48 African nations, including 25 heads of state. South Korea would like to expand its geopolitical influence and forge deeper global partnerships throughout the world. What does this new global perspective mean as it relates to Putin’s recent visit to North Korea, the role of China, working with Japan, the Philippines and Asia-Pacific region? Now South Korea hopes to play a role in Africa and even the Middle East. Finally, what about their politics internally? How do the Koreans themselves see their new role in the world and even their neighbors, near and far?
Please join us at the Neill Cochran Historical House Museum on Thursday, July 18 th , 5:30 p.m.
for a wine and cheese “social” followed by a joint presentation by two excellent scholars in this field: Rodger Baker and Dr. Jooyoun Lee.

RODGER BAKER
Executive Director, Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics
Rodger Baker has spent more than two decades with Stratfor/RANE, where he’s focused on the Indo-Pacific region, with special attention to China and the Korean Peninsula. He addresses the strategic dynamics of an evolving world system — looking at great power competition, the role of middle powers, and the impacts of technological, environmental, and demographic changes on geopolitical relationships. His core emphasis is the multidisciplinary approach to geopolitics and the evolution of international relations to develop mid- and long-term forecasts to assist companies, governments, and other globally engaged organizations make informed decisions.
Rodger is a Senior Fellow at the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, a Steering Fellow for the Mackinder Forum, and teaches a certificate program in Geopolitical Analysis at Florida Atlantic University.
DR. JOOYOUN LEE
Dr. Lee is a Professor of Global Studies and Political Science at St. Edwards University, where she teaches Global Issues, International Relations, International Security and Conflict Resolution. Her research interests include identity politics, collective memory, East Asian international relations, international security, gender, and popular culture. Prior to undertaking her Ph.D. at Syracuse University, she worked as a research fellow at the Korean Institute for Women and Politics and at the Institute of Civil Society and New Governance at Kyung Hee University in South Korea as well as serving as a program coordinator for the International NGOs conference held in Seoul in cooperation with the United Nations.

Globalist Coffeehouse: South Korea Follow-up Discussion
2024-07-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Shoal Creek Saloon, 909 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX, 78703, United States
Join us at the Globalist Coffeehouse on Thursday, July 25th, 6:30 p.m. at the Shoal Creek Saloon on North Lamar. The topic will be on South Korea. This will be a follow-up discussion to a program on July 18th with two top scholars in this field. Please go to the link below and register. I hope you can attend both events.

For more details contact:
Ellen Murry, Co-chair, of the Globalist Coffeehouse: ellen.murry@yahoo.com
Polina Anastassieva, Co-chair, of the Globalist Coffeehouse: polina@wacaustin.org

Japan Business Seminar During Oita Festival
2024-09-22 11:00 - 16:00 | Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin is once again a partner organization for the annual Oita Japan Festival! You won’t want to miss the “Doing Business in Japan” seminar.
Texas exports over $6 billion in goods and services to Japan. Japan is also a top five export market for central Texas companies. Be sure to attend this informative session to learn more from our friends at Q-Branch, JETRO-Houston, and the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce.
The business-focused session will include an overview of Japan’s industry sectors including a look at the Japanese corporate presence in the U.S., Japanese cultural characteristics, promising sectors for U.S. goods and services, and resources for American companies wishing to establish a corporate entity in Japan.
REGISTER HERE!

Asia x Austin International Market Summit
2025-03-11 12:00 - 21:00 | Austin Central Library, 710 West Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX, 78701, United States
The Asia x Austin International Market Summit returns for 2025!
In “Asian Market Briefings” we’ll hear from international trade experts and country representatives about business and investment opportunities in some of Asia’s most dynamic and robust markets. Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and India.
Event Launch Agenda:
12:00 | Registration
12:30 | GAACC Welcome & Summit Sponsors
12:45 | Regional Economic Ecosystem
12:50 | Why Austin
1:00 | Central Texas Cities
1:30 | Asian Markets Briefings
2:30 | Closing Remarks

DETAILS for Full Day AND RSVP HERE

Japan Business Seminar during Oita Festival
2025-09-20 12:00 - 18:00 | Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
The World Affairs Council of Austin is once again a partner organization for the annual Oita Japan Festival! You won’t want to miss the “Doing Business in Japan” seminar from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm in Gallery 701.
Texas exports over $6 billion in goods and services to Japan. Japan is also a top five export market for central Texas companies. Be sure to attend this informative session to learn more from our friends at Q-Branch, JETRO-Houston, and the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce.
The business-focused session will include an overview of Japan’s industry sectors including a look at the Japanese corporate presence in the U.S., Japanese cultural characteristics, promising sectors for U.S. goods and services, and resources for American companies wishing to establish a corporate entity in Japan.

America’s Changing Strategic Assumptions about China: Implications for the Bilateral Relationship
2026-01-13 17:30 - 19:00 | TX
In his talk, David Firestein will examine how key U.S. assumptions about China and strategic aspirations and intentions have changed over the last ten to fifteen years and analyze and assess the impact of these shifts on U.S. policy choices and policy performance.
This event is by invitation-only. Please notify us of your interest to receive an invitation by providing your contact information in the form below. Priority registration is available for World Affairs Council of Austin members. Bring your invitation to the event. Invitations are non-transferable.

REQUEST YOUR INVITATION HERE

David J. Firestein is the inaugural president and CEO of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations (Bush China Foundation) and a founding and current member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Before joining the Bush China Foundation, Mr. Firestein was the founding executive director of The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT) China Public Policy Center (CPPC) and a clinical professor at UT’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
A decorated career U.S. diplomat from 1992–2010, Mr. Firestein specialized primarily in U.S.-China relations, posted in both Beijing, China, and Moscow, Russia. Mr. Firestein is the author or co-author of three books on China, including two China-published Chinese-language best-sellers, as well as numerous China-focused monographs, policy reports, and articles.

Globalist Coffeehouse: China in the First Decades of the 21st Century
2026-02-04 18:30 - 20:00 | 5280 Burger and Taphouse, 7032 Wood Hollow Dr, Austin, TX, 78731, United States
NEW DATE: February 4th
In the decades to come, what will China’s role be in the global world order? The relationship with the U.S. has been one of competition but also cooperation on certain global issues, such as climate change. Still, it is said that the “Belt and Road Initiative” might become the “Belt and World Initiative” as they move into the vacuum the U.S. has created, from Africa to Asia and the Indian subcontinent. And finally, how will our traditional allies view their relationship with China?
Please join us for what will be a discussion that will dominate global interests for years, if not decades, to come.
REGISTER HERE

WorldNow: The Great Firewall with Yi-Ling Liu
2026-02-10 18:00 - 19:00 | ONLINE
Journalist Yi-Ling Liu takes us behind the Great Firewall to the reality of 30 years of surveillance and censorship on the Chinese Internet.

Thirty years ago, the world began to discover the power of the Internet: a digital world and resource to connect, share ideas, learn, and earn. While the rest of the world connected, the Chinese government began creating a system of strict surveillance and censorship on its internet – now known as the Great Firewall.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens?
Join us February 10th on WorldNow as author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu tells the untold story of the Chinese internet. Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall.

REGISTER HERE

The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet by Yi-Ling Liu
An eye-opening exploration of the Chinese internet that reveals the intricate dance between freedom and control in contemporary China
In the late 1990s, as the world was waking up to the power and emancipatory promise of the internet, Chinese authorities began constructing a system of online surveillance and censorship now known as the Great Firewall. But far from being a barren landscape, the digital world that sprouted up behind the firewall brimmed with new subcultures and tech innovations, offering many Chinese citizens previously unimaginable connection and opportunity.
Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, journalist Yi-Ling Liu presents an intimate portrait of China’s online ecosystem—and a crucial lens into the on-the-ground reality of life there. Tracing the last three decades of the Chinese internet’s evolution—from its lexicon to its memes to the precise nature of its censorship—she equips readers with a critical tool to assess the past, present, and future of a global power.
Drawing on years of firsthand reporting, The Wall Dancers weaves together the stories of individuals navigating China’s transformation into both the world’s largest online user base and one of its most populous authoritarian states. As these entrepreneurs, activists, artists, and dreamers experience the internet’s power as a tool for both control and liberation, they grapple with universal questions of success and authenticity, love and solidarity, faith and resilience.
The Wall Dancers is at once an unforgettable work of human storytelling and a vital exploration of what it means to live with dignity and hope within the technological systems that now shape all our lives.
Pre-order a copy of The Wall Dancers, coming February 3rd, 2026.

Asia x Austin International Summit at SXSW
2026-03-17 12:00 - 21:00 | Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin, TX, 78704, United States
The Asia x Austin International Summit returns in 2026!
Attendees will hear from international trade experts and country representatives about business and investment opportunities in some of Asia’s most dynamic and robust markets.
Agenda At-A-Glance
Explore expanded session details below.
VENUE: KODOSKY DONOR LOUNGE (12 – 9 pm)
12:00 – 1:45 pm
[session info]Why Asia?:
The Central Texas Connection
1:45 – 2:00 pmNetworking Break
2:00 – 3:15 pm
[session info]Development @ Asia x Austin:
The Heart of the Texas Triangle
3:15 – 3:30Networking Break
3:30 – 6:00 pm
[session info]Technology @ Asia x Austin:
Robots, Chips & Rockets
6:00-6:30 pmNetworking Break
6:30 – 9:00 pm
[session info]Asia x Austin After Dark:
Cinema, Soul & Sound
VENUE: 701 GALLERY (2 – 6:45 pm)
2:00 – 3:15 pm
[session info]Markets @ Asia x Austin:
The Trade & Investment Connection
3:15 – 3:30 pmNetworking Break
3:30 – 5:30 pm
[session info]Startups @ Asia x Austin:
Born Global!

5:30 – 6:45 pm
[session info]
Creators @ Asia x Austin:
Get Noticed!

MORE DETAILS HERE
