The Pacific Forum is hosting a panel discussion titled “Regional Reactions to the US ‘Pivot’ to Asia” at the Pacific Beach Hotel’s Marlin Room on the third floor of the Oceanarium Tower from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2013.

This event comes after  the conclusion of this year’s ASEAN Regional Forum’s Experts and Eminent Persons Group (ARF/EEPG) and will feature three distinguished EEP panelists: Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies and co-chairman of the EEPG; Dr. Xuecheng Liu, senior research fellow and executive vice president of the Center for China-US Relations of the China Institute of International Studies, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Professor Paul Evans, Director of the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia . The panel will be chaired by Pacific Forum President Ralph Cossa, who currently serves as international co-chair of the EEPG.

Audience members will hear expert views and ask questions on regional attitudes about America’s “rebalance” toward the Asia-Pacific. This is a rare opportunity for the public to participate directly in Pacific Forum’s policy-shaping efforts and we encourage you to attend.

The ARF EEPG was created in 2001 to provide advice and guidance to members of the ARF in dealing with confidence- building measures and preventive diplomacy. The EEPs are charged with providing non-binding and professional views or policy recommendations to the ARF through the ARF Chair. EEPs focus on issues and subjects that are relevant to the interests and concerns of the ARF that are not being adequately addressed elsewhere, and to which their expertise is directly applicable.

The event is free and open to the public; there is a $5 charge for those who self-park in the Pacific Beach Hotel garage. Please bring your parking ticket with you to the event upstairs so we can provide you with validation for the $5 rate. RSVP to [email protected]