State of Asia: Thoughtful Voices, Meticulous Setup Spoke at Asia Society Switzerland’s State of Asia last week — here’s my interview: youtu.be/Im_xSfSPjJs?si… Each Asia Society chapter runs independently. This one stands out — well-funded, well-organized, and easily the best-run I’ve seen. The organizers were meticulous. Ever been to an event where every attendee gets their own single sofa? Great vibe too — felt more like a community than a conference. Interesting to hear mainland Chinese speakers, though you can’t expect much deviation from the official line. Not their fault — it’s hard to speak freely when your career hangs on every word. Also bumped into a Swiss collector with one of the largest modern Chinese art collections — I used to hear his name often back in my Beijing art-buying days. The ladies who spoke on Vietnam and India were particularly impressive — sharp, grounded, and thoughtful. Only wish they’d had someone from Japan. The country just got its first female prime minister, now riding a 70%+ approval rating and already shaking things up at home and abroad. Overall, it was refreshing to see smart people engage with real curiosity and respect. Photo credit ‘On Eyes Photography / André Hengst’