This project enlists the support of policymakers, experts, political and business leaders, and the media in promoting the establishment of specific policies and institutions to build an Asian Economic Community.
In fiscal 2007, under the self-operated component of the project, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, director and chief executive of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, was invited to serve as project advisor and in this capacity provided advice on the roles of Japan and India in strengthening relations between South and East Asia.
Under the grant-funded component of the project, research was conducted using networks that have been built through activities in the past, including phase I of the current project, for which nine research papers were completed with such themes as "Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia" and "Deepening Financial Integration in Asia." The findings of the research were then made available through such vehicles as international conferences, a website (www.newasiaforum.org), the media of various countries, and a quarterly newsletter published by the grantee the findings were also compiled into a paper entitled, "Asia's New Regionalism and Global Role: Agenda for the East Asia Summit."