Organizer: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Type/Location: Hybrid / Singapore
Description:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world as we know it, presenting both immense opportunities and profound challenges. As AI development continues to advance at an unprecedented speed, there is an urgent need for governments, industries, and societies to understand both the transformative potential and the risks that such technology can pose.
China and Southeast Asia are at the forefront of this digital transformation. China has established a dynamic AI ecosystem, leading in research and innovation while promoting responsible governance through initiatives such as the Global AI Governance Initiative and the Global AI Governance Action Plan. Across Southeast Asia, countries are embracing digital transformation as a key engine of growth, advancing regional cooperation through frameworks such as the Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics and the ASEAN AI Safety Network (AI SAFE).
Jointly organised by the Media, Technology and Society Programme and the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, and the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), this symposium aims to deepen collaboration between China and ASEAN on AI governance and development. These discussions will convene leading experts, academics, and industry practitioners to exchange experiences, identify policy gaps, and propose actionable recommendations to strengthen regional cooperation on AI. In doing so, it aims to guide the development of sound AI governance and ethics frameworks, along with regulations that benefit and protect all parts of society.
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About the Speakers:
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Ms. Elina Noor is a Senior Fellow in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Previously, she served as Director of Political-Security Affairs at the Asia Society Policy Institute and held key positions at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia. Ms Noor holds law degrees from Oxford and LSE and serves on the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters.
Mr. Wang Yasong is the President and General Manager of Guangxi Nanyi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. and the Head of Operations at the China–ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Collaborative Innovation Center. He also serves as a counsellor to the Nanning municipal government and is the Deputy Director of the National Engineering Laboratory for Big Data Application Technologies to Improve Government Governance Capacity.
Mr. Looi Teck Kheong is the Global AI Ambassador at the Global Council for Responsible AI and Principal Consultant specialising in digital economy regulation and governance. Previously, he served as Head of ASEAN’s Competition, Consumer Protection, and Intellectual Property Division, where he directed the development of the region’s core digital market policies. With over 35 years of experience, Mr Looi has played a leading role in shaping policy frameworks that balance innovation, competition, and ethics.
Mr. Fu Hongyu is the Director of the AI Governance Center at the Alibaba Research Institute. He also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Public Administration at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and as a researcher at the Center for Industrial Development and Environmental Governance at Tsinghua University.
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Mr. Keith Detros is a Programme Manager at the Tech for Good Institute, where he leads advocacy programmes across six ASEAN countries on issues including the digital economy, cybersecurity, scam resilience, and trust and safety. Previously, he served as the Digital Economy and Cybersecurity Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Mr Detros holds a Master of International Affairs from the National University of Singapore and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Manila.
Dr. Zhao Yunwei is a Senior Engineer at the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team and Coordination Center of China (CNCERT/CC). She is also actively involved in ITU-T and ISO/IEC standardisation.
Mr. Nguyen Quang Dong is the Director of the Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development (IPS) under the Vietnam Digital Communication Association. Under his leadership, IPS has provided analysis and policy advice to Vietnam’s National Assembly Committees and key ministries on the country’s digital transformation strategies. He holds a Master’s degree in Governance and Public Policy from the University of Queensland, Australia.
Dr. Qiu Chenxi is the Deputy Director of the Center for Global Digital Governance at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT). Her work focuses on global AI governance and the role of international organisations.
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Ms. Evelyn Chow is the Regional Client Services Director at Morgan McKinley, where she oversees high-impact, technology-enabled talent acquisition programmes across the Asia Pacific region. With over 25 years of experience, she is recognised for her strategic capabilities and people-first leadership, which helps organisations build strong human capital strategies and lead high-performing teams grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared success.
Ms. Zhang Weiwei is the Deputy Director of the Department of World Peace and Security Studies at the China Institute of International Studies. Her research focuses on Sino–U.S. technology competition and the strategic implications of artificial intelligence. She also provides policy consultation to various government agencies.
Mr. Diera Gala Paksi is the Project Manager of the AI Ready ASEAN Programme – a flagship regional initiative funded by Google.org and led by the ASEAN Foundation. Prior to his current role, he served as a Consultant to Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (KOMDIGI). With over 13 years of experience in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and community development, he currently oversees AI literacy efforts that aim to reach 5.5 million beneficiaries across all ten ASEAN Member States.
Dr. Liu Zhipeng is a researcher at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), where he leads multiple projects on the governance of Artificial Intelligence. He has contributed to the development of several national AI governance policies and has participated in the China–U.S. Track II Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence.
Registration:
To attend the event in person, please register here.
To attend the event virtually, please register here.