U.S.–ASEAN Eminent Persons Group

The United States–Association of Southeast Asian Nations Eminent Persons Group (U.S.–ASEAN EPG) was announced by President Barack Obama and the 10 ASEAN heads of state in November 2011 during the third U.S.–ASEAN summit in Bali, Indonesia. The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) Southeast Asia program was named secretariat for the U.S.–ASEAN EPG by the U.S. Department of State.

President Obama nominated three U.S. members of the EPG:

• The Hon. Charlene Barshefsky, former U.S. trade representative,
• Mr. Muhtar Kent, chairman & CEO, The Coca-Cola Company, and
• The Hon. J. Stapleton Roy, former U.S. ambassador to China, Indonesia, and Singapore.

The ASEAN nations each named one member to the U.S. –ASEAN Eminent Persons Group.

The CSIS Southeast Asia program, led by Ernest Bower, will provide research and technical support to the EPG. CSIS expects to coordinate closely with leading think tanks in each of the ASEAN countries to support the effort.

The EPG will likely meet twice in 2012 and will prepare an interim report for the U.S.-ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference in Phnom Penh in July and a final report with recommendations for consideration at the fourth U.S.-ASEAN Leaders Meeting in Cambodia in November.

For more information, view the CSIS NAMED SECRETARIAT FOR THE U.S.-ASEAN EMINENT PERSONS GROUP press release.