THE ASEAN LEADER’S CONFERENCE 2018 WAS ORGANISED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM-SINGAPORE STUDENTS’ COUNCIL. IT AIMS TO BRING TOGETHER YOUNG LEADERS FROM ACROSS ASEAN TO DISCUSS ISSUES FACING ASEAN TODAY, AND TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEMS OF TOMORROW.

THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR CONSISTED OF A PANEL DISCUSSION, FOLLOWED BY GROUP DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATIONS BY THE PARTICIPANTS. THE TOPICS WERE CENTRED AROUND THE ASEAN ECONOMY AND IDENTITY, AS WELL AS GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY.

OUR GUEST OF HONOUR THIS YEAR WAS MS. FOO CHI HSIA, HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UK. PANELISTS FOR THE PANEL DISCUSSION WERE MS. KETSUDA SUPRADIT, MINISTER (ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL) FOR THE UK AND EUROPE FROM THE ROYAL THAI EMBASSY IN LONDON, MR. MOHD. SUHAIMI JAAFAR, DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE HIGH COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA IN LONDON, AS WELL AS DR. ALAN COLLINS, SENIOR LECTURER ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FROM SWANSEA UNIVERSITY.

THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD ON 3RD FEBRUARY 2018, AND WELCOMED A TOTAL OF 50 STUDENT LEADERS FROM ACROSS ASEAN TO ATTEND. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED, AND THOSE WHO HELPED US IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

The ASEAN Leaders Conference was held at the Thai Royal Embassy on 2 December with the aims of forging stronger relations and network among the student leaders of ASEAN nations. The event was attended by around 75 student leaders and was a wonderful opportunity for the 18th UKSSC to interact with their counterparts from the other ASEAN countries. There was a fruitful exchange of ideas about how the ASEAN student community in UK can progress together.

The ASEAN Leaders Conference was a significant step in laying the foundations for stronger working ties between the UKSSC and other ASEAN student associations, setting the stage for future long-term collaborations. This event will lead up to the Warwick ASEAN conference, which we hope will further the rapport among our fellow ASEAN student leaders.

Once again, UKSSC would like to thank the SAMAGI SAMAGOM committee for the hard work and warm reception.