14/10/2025
Sharing updates and highlights from the first week of the 2025 Young Asian Diplomats program:
The Asia Foundation this week welcomed ten emerging diplomats from across Asia and the Pacific Islands to Washington, D.C., for the launch of the 2025 Young Asian Diplomats Program, an initiative that strengthens leadership, deepens understanding of U.S. foreign and domestic policy, and fosters lasting relationships between Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the United States.
Launched in 2019, the two-week program provides diplomats under the age of 40 from Asia and the Pacific an understanding of the many influences and perspectives that shape U.S. foreign policy and the institutional and political context for making and carrying out foreign policy.
This year’s program brings together diplomats from Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. The first phase, Foreign Policy and Diplomacy in a Global Era, is being conducted in partnership with the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C., from October 5 through 10. The second phase, from October 11 through 17, includes a leadership development workshop and observation study tour in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and New York City.
Through intensive dialogue, coursework, and meetings with policymakers, academics, and practitioners, participants will explore the processes and institutions that shape U.S. policy. They will also engage in leadership and communication training designed to strengthen their ability to navigate complex diplomatic environments and advance regional cooperation in the years ahead.
“The Asia Foundation has long believed that building bridges between the United States and nations in Asia and the Pacific is essential for the stability and prosperity of the region and the United States,” said David Kim, senior director of Leadership and Exchange Programs at The Asia Foundation. “The Young Asian Diplomats Program embodies that commitment by identifying and equipping emerging leaders with the skills, knowledge, and relationships needed to meet the challenges of 21st-century diplomacy.”
Since its founding more than seven decades ago, The Asia Foundation has supported initiatives that encourage greater mutual understanding between Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Americans, helping strengthen the foundations of U.S.–Asia relations. The Young Asian Diplomats Program continues this legacy by providing a platform for early-career diplomats to examine the historical and contemporary dynamics of American policy priorities in Asia and the Pacific and to connect with peers across the region.
The Young Asian Diplomats Program is made possible by generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation. This year’s fellows are: Arjun Adhikari from Nepal, Nomin Batbaatar from Mongolia, Nuporn Chantavarin from Thailand, Adi Arieta Latianara from Fiji, Sonia Maia from Timor-Leste, Fauziah Rahmah Muin from Indonesia, Ruvini Munidasa from Sri Lanka, Nguyen Minh Anh from Vietnam, Maria Regine Beatrice B. Vergara from the Philippines, and Va Vireakbot from Cambodia.
