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The conference is part of the CSIS's newly established Southeast Asia Initiative, the aim of which is to fill in the knowledge gap about the once war-torn region among the movers and shakers in Washington. For decades, the region has been identified as a war zone because of World War II and the Vietnam War. Eight scholars from Southeast Asia were invited to join key Asean ambassadors over here to share their views on the state of US-Southeast Asia ties. This time round, non-partisan American policy decision-makers and experts really want to hear indigenous voices from the region. In less than five weeks, the US will choose a new president. Among other major foreign-policy issues, the new US administration has to contemplate a comprehensive policy towards Southeast Asia, although the region was not mentioned in the presidential debates on Friday night.

Almost all of them saw eye to eye on the importance and strategic value of the US' continued presence in the region, which has safeguarded stability and prosperity here. They hoped that the US would be able to cope effectively with the ongoing financial crisis, knowing full well the huge repercussions on the grouping's overall economic health. The region would want the US to engage Asean actively at the highest level and play a constructive role in shaping the regional architecture through frameworks such as the Asean Regional Forum and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. The US should also redouble its efforts to balance the rise of China and India. For instance, Beijing's political acumen and political adroitness have been shown in its ability to make significant inroads into the region, while the US has been distracted by other foreign-policy priorities.

"It was refreshing to hear their views directly," said Derek Mitchell, CSIS Director for the Asia International Security Programme, referring to a discussion among Southeast Asian participants assessing the strengths and weaknesses of US power and foreign policy. The conference provided a unique opportunity for Southeast Asian experts and stakeholders to compare notes and clarify their doubts with their American counterparts.

Within the Beltway, the top concerns about Asia normally relate to relations between China and Taiwan, the security of the Korean Peninsula and sometimes the crisis in Burma. It is extremely difficult to get attention for matters beyond these few topics.

Thus to increase awareness on Southeast Asia in the heart of the world's most powerful nation, the Thai government has taken the unprecedented step of allocating grants to the CSIS as well as five universities to jumpstart conferences and courses on Southeast Asia. Since 2005, Thailand has provided US$100,000 (Bt3.4 million) each to the universities of Wisconsin, North Carolina, Maryland, Michigan and Georgetown. The recipient universities are teaching courses related to Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The Thai Embassy hopes that in the near future other Asean members will also join in this endeavour and chip in funding because it benefits Asean as a whole to have the group's profile raised in Washington. As the Asean chair, Thailand is working hard to promote discussion on Asean affairs, albeit amid ongoing political uncertainties at home.

When Singapore held the chair, it brought Asean into the international limelight several times, especially when it came to engaging Asean leaders at the World Economic Forum. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and former prime minister Surayud Chulanont attended the forum last year. It was a good start to further strengthen institutional links and personal networks.

In a similar vein, the link with CSIS has encouraged Thai authorities to look into the possibility of setting up an independent think-tank in Bangkok that will focus exclusively on international security and strategic issues affecting the interests of Thailand and the region. Obviously, given the current political crisis and Thailand's regional role, the country is in need of an institution that is capable of articulating the issues and providing all-round strategic views. The Thailand Research Fund has already expressed a keen interest in backing up such a think-tank.

As part of this effort, the first summit between Thai and US think-tank researchers will be held in mid-October in Bangkok to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Thai-US relations. Over a dozen Southeast Asian experts representing various American universities and think-tanks including Georgetown and Johns Hopkins universities, the CSIS and the Brookings Institution will take part in the summit. They will meet with senior Thai officials from various ministries and brainstorm with Thai scholars.