Overwhelming response to LSE Asia Forum 2008 - The Politics of Knowledge
Singapore, 11 April 2008 - The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) hosted its fourth Asian Forum in Singapore today at the Shangri-La Hotel with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivering the keynote address.
In his address, Prime Minister Lee said, "The theme of this conference - knowledge - engages many of us in Asia. The whole continent is on the move today, because China and India have taken off. But Asian countries know that to sustain their growth and improve their people's lives, the use and creation of knowledge are crucial. Hence many countries are seeking to educate their people, upgrade their economies, and create conditions for knowledge and innovation to flourish."
The theme chosen for LSE's 2008 Forum was The Politics of Knowledge. The Forum addressed the challenging issues facing policymakers, business people and others in supporting and promoting the growth of knowledge-based economies. It highlighted approaches suitable for Asian nations - approaches that differed from those adopted in the US and Europe.
The LSE Asia Forum 2008 brought together more than 600 business leaders, policymakers, diplomatic corps, senior civil servants, academic thought leaders and members of the distinguished community of LSE alumni from Asia and beyond to explore key strategic developments in the region.
Director of LSE, Howard Davies said: "These days it is almost a cliché to say that we live in a knowledge economy. However knowledge is not like the other tangible assets that have driven the early development of most nations. Different countries and regions need different strategies to promote and support the growth of their knowledge economies. This entails new dynamics and challenges in wealth creation, legal regulation, national and social organisation and the protection of environmental and natural resources.
"The LSE Asia Forum engaged Asian government and business leaders in a stimulating dialogue with leading international experts on managing the dynamics of change in these areas and promoted an exchange of ideas. We are honoured that Prime Minister Lee as well as Finance Minister and LSE Alumnus Tharman Shanmugaratnam agreed to participate in the Forum."
The Forum comprised four sessions:
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Session 1: Knowledge as a Driver for Economic Growth
Addressed the production of knowledge, and its value as an economic driver.
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Session 2: Protecting Knowledge: balancing commercial needs and public benefits
Examined issues surrounding the protection of knowledge, looking at the conflict between the commercial need to protect and restrict the use of knowledge, and the social need to provide greater access.
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Session 3: Controlling Knowledge: responding to contest and change in control over religious knowledge
Explored the control of knowledge, focusing specifically on the use of religious knowledge, both as a means of transfer of ideas and information, and as a means of control and censorship of knowledge.
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Session 4: Sharing Knowledge: reconciling conflicting aims on climate change and the environment
Addressed the problems in creating and using common or shared knowledge to generate regional and international action, looking especially at the ways we are now addressing the issues associated with climate change and the environment.
Discussions were led by LSE professors Danny Quah, Head of the Economics Department at LSE; Conor Gearty, Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at LSE; Nikolas Rose, James Martin White Professor of Sociology; John T. Sidel, Sir Patrick Gillam Professor of International and Comparative Politics; and Lord Nicholas Stern, IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government and Director of the Asia Research Centre at LSE. Howard Davies, Director of LSE, opened and closed the Forum.
Other participants included Ambassador K Kesavapany, Director, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies; Dr Teh Kok Peng, President, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) Special Investments Pte Ltd; Dato Paduka Timothy Ong, Acting Chairman, Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB); Justice Robert Ribeiro, Permanent Judge, Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal; Dr Kevin YL Tan, Adjunct Associate Professor, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University; Professor Tariq Ramadan, Senior Research Fellow, St Anthony's College (Oxford); Zainah Anwar, Executive Director, Sisters in Islam; Professor Sarah Worthington Pro-Director, LSE; Peter Sutherland, Chair of LSE Court of Governors and Chairman of BP plc and Goldman Sachs International and Nitin Desai, Distinguished Visiting Fellow, The Energy and Resources Institute, India.
LSE has a long-standing association with Asia. It has been active in building partnerships with business and governments for many years. As one of the world's leading universities, LSE has been at the forefront of the analysis of globalisation and is the alma mater of many public leaders in Asia.
The Forum was hosted in association with The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), a regional research centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, security and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment.
Sponsors for the LSE Asia Forum 2008 included Professor Saw Swee Hock, Professorial Fellow at ISEAS; the Singapore Exchange and The LSE Annual Fund.
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LSE Director Howard Davies addresses the LSE Asia Forum.
Please click on the image to view in higher resolution.
Further Information
For more information, contact:
Porter Novelli Singapore
Anu Ramasamy at anu.ramasamy@porternovelli.com| or tel: 6539 9289 or mobile: 9383 1574
Chen Terng Shing at terng.shing@porternovelli.com| or tel: 6539 9296 or mobile: 9858 0445
Press Cuttings
The China Post, April 16 2008
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/editorial/world%20issues/2008/04/16/152071/Tibet-is.htm|
The Hindu, April 12 2008
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/12/stories/2008041259071200.htm|
The Straits Times, April 12 2008
Channel NewsAsia, April 11 2008
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/340788/1/.html|
iafrica.com, April 11 2008
http://business.iafrica.com/worldnews/656142.htm|
Bernama.com, April 11 2008
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=326162|