THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ASIA Inspiration, Initiatives & Legacy NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ASIA / PAGE 01 The National Conversation on Asia was able to attract an impressive group of blue chip corporate partners from all regions of the country and all major sectors of the economy. We thank each of them for their great vision and generosity. NCA Founding Partners NCA Founding Sponsors NCA Founding Supporters Foreword The National Conversation on Asia (NCA) is one of the most ambitious I believe the NCA made a significant difference not just by raising and successful initiatives in the 30 year history of the Asia Pacific awareness, but also by effecting change across the country and helping Foundation of Canada. to move decision-makers from the question of ‘Why Asia?’ to ‘How Asia?’ It grew out of two beliefs. First, that Canada needed to take advantage It was also transformative for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in of the global shift from west to east in geopolitics, business and culture terms of its profile, reach, and access to new networks and contacts. Its to ensure Canadians’ prosperity and well-being. Second, that we couldn’t success underscored the Foundation as a source of trusted knowledge expect government alone to deliver the programs that were essential to and the convenor of choice in Canada on Asia. increase Canadians’ understanding of and engagement with Asia. More concretely, a number of legacy projects have arisen out of the That’s why we created the National Conversation on Asia, a national NCA and are ongoing, as outlined on pages 38 and 39 of this document. program to get Canadians thinking and talking about Asia and what This project was the creation of my predecessor Yuen Pau Woo, who its rise means to Canada. It also aimed to ensure that government deserves special thanks. However, it was a team effort and the full policies at all levels were geared to a more Asia focused century. The NCA team is listed in the appendix. I would particularly like to thank, Conversation was entirely funded from private sources, winning support in Toronto, the home base of the project, Director Douglas Goold, from 15 blue chip sponsors across the country. It partnered with more who directed the project, and Project Manager Jordan Dupuis, who than two dozen other NGOs and civil society organizations. managed it. In Vancouver, I would like to thank Jill Price, Vice President, The program began in April 2011 with launches in Montreal, Vancouver Development and Corporate Affairs, for her success in securing and and Toronto and was scheduled to run for three years. However, it was stewarding corporate support for the initiative. extended a further six months, ending this month with a capstone I hope you enjoy this legacy document. While much has been conference in Calgary entitled Canada’s Asia Challenge: Skills and accomplished by the National Conversation over the past three Knowledge for the Next Generation, the subject of one of the NCA’s four years, much still remains to be done to increase engagement and task force reports. understanding between Canada and Asia. The NCA encompassed a broad range of activities in eight provinces a well as Yukon, including speeches, roundtables, student events, polling, Stewart Beck task force reports, and outreach through a dedicated website, social President and CEO media and traditional media. Ongoing support and cooperation from both Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada the federal governments and provincial governments across the country helped ensure the success of this project. October 2014 PAGE 04 / NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ASIA Avant-propos Le Dialogue canadien sur l’Asie (DCA) est une des initiatives les plus ambitieuses Je suis convaincu que le DCA a fait une différence marquante, non seulement des trente ans d’histoire de la Fondation Asie-Pacifique du Canada. en augmentant la conscientisation, mais aussi en amenant des changements Elle est née de deux convictions. Premièrement, que le Canada devait profiter à l’échelle du pays et en aidant les décideurs à passer de la question « Pourquoi du basculement global de l’ouest vers l’est en géopolitique, en affaires et en l’Asie? » à « Comment l’Asie? » Ce fut aussi un agent de transformation pour la culture, pour assurer la prospérité et le bien-être des Canadiens. Deuxièmement, Fondation Asie-Pacifique du Canada en termes de profil, d’envergure et d’accès à que nous ne devions pas nous attendre à ce que le gouvernement seul livre les de nouveaux réseaux et contacts. Son succès a souligné l’importance de la Fonda- programmes essentiels à mieux comprendre et renforcer l’engagement des tion comme source de renseignements fiables et comme rassembleur de choix Canadiens envers l’Asie. sur l’Asie. C’est pourquoi nous avons créé le Dialogue canadien sur l’Asie, un programme Plus concrètement, un certain nombre de documents témoins sont nés de national qui vise à amener les Canadiens à réfléchir et à discuter de l’Asie et de ce l’initiative du DCA, tels que mentionnés aux pages 38 et 39 de ce document. que son émergence signifie pour le Canada. Il vise aussi à s’assurer que les poli- Ce projet était la création de mon prédécesseur Yuen Pau Woo, qui mérite tiques gouvernementales à tous les niveaux soient plus adéquates pour un siècle des remerciements tout spéciaux. Ce fut tout de même un travail d’équipe et la davantage axé sur l’Asie. Le Dialogue a été entièrement financé de sources privées liste complète des participants figure en appendice. J’aimerais remercier tout et a obtenu l’appui de 15 corporations majeures à l’échelle du pays. Il a fonctionné particulièrement, à Toronto, base du projet, son directeur Douglas Goold et le chef en partenariat avec plus de deux douzaines d’autres ONG et des organismes de la de projet, Jordan Dupuis, et à Vancouver, Jill Price, vice-présidente du Développe- société civile. ment et des affaires corporatives pour nous avoir obtenu le soutien du milieu des Le programme a vu le jour en avril 2011, avec des lancements à Montréal, affaires. Vancouver et Toronto et devait se dérouler sur trois ans. Cependant, il a été pro- J’espère que vous apprécierez le document témoin. Nous avons énormément longé de six mois prenant fin ce mois-ci à Calgary avec une conférence de clôture accompli avec le Dialogue canadien sur l’Asie au cours des trois dernières années, intitulée Canada’s Asia Challenge: Skills and Knowledge for the Next Generation, mais il reste encore beaucoup à faire pour renforcer l’engagement et la com- sujet d’un rapport d’un des quatre groupes de travail du DCA. préhension entre le Canada et l’Asie. Le Dialogue a donné lieu à un large éventail d’activités dans huit provinces ainsi qu’au Yukon : discours, tables rondes, événements pour étudiants, sondages, rap- Stewart Beck ports de groupes de travail et réseautage par le biais d’un site web spécifique, les Président et chef de la direction médias sociaux et les médias traditionnels. Le soutien et la coopération continus Fondation Asie-Pacifique du Canada des gouvernements fédéral et provinciaux à l’échelle du pays ont assuré le succès de ce projet. Octobre 2014 NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ASIA / PAGE 05 National Conversation on Asia: Inspiration, Initiatives & Legacy Percentage of World GDP 40% 29% 19% 20% 1980 2020 • ASIA • NORTH AMERICA Percentage of Global Imports 23% 31% 21% 17% 2004 2012 • ASIA • NORTH AMERICA 40% OF THE GLOBAL ENERGY DEMAND IS FROM ASIA DATE: 2011 PAGE 08 / NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ASIA 60% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION IS IN ASIA DATE: 2012 Asia is on its way to becoming the main engine of global growth. Asian economies’ share of global GDP is already higher than Europe’s or North 37% OF THE WORLD'S GDP America’s and it is expected to reach 40% IS CURRENTLY IN ASIA by 2018. As Asia grows, per capita income and DATE: 2012 living standards will rise significantly. Asia’s middle class consumption will soon surpass the West’s. Asia is Global importing a greater share of the world’s products and services Middle Class and is rapidly becoming the biggest market in the world, 2009 offering remarkable opportunities for Canadian companies. ASIA 28% NORTH AMERICA 18% 2030 ASIA 66% NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ASIA / PAGE 09 FOR INFOGRAPHIC SOURCES, SEE PAGE 41 NORTH AMERICA 7% Guangzhou South Railway Station, one of the busiest railway stations in southern China JEFF HU, THINKSTOCK HU, JEFF PHOTO: PAGE 10 / NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON ASIA Power Shift A Global Power Shift is Underway from West to East CHINA HAS The most visible aspect of this shift is economic, as shown by high growth rates in many Asian BECOME NOT JUST countries and virtual certainty that China will soon surpass the United States as the world’s largest AN IMPORTANT economy. For many, the only point of debate is not if that will happen, but when. As you can see TRADING PARTNER from the data on the map of Asia on the previous pages, the growth both of GDP and the middle class FOR MANY in Asia is expected to rise spectacularly in the coming years. Populations will also expand. According COUNTRIES, to a recent report by the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in 1950, nine of BUT THE MOST the 30 largest cities in the world were in Asia; by 2025, nineteen of the biggest cities will be in Asia. IMPORTANT Asia in general, and China in particular, are key to global prosperity. Since the great recession of 2008, China has been responsible for 25% to 40% of global growth.