Kishore Mahbubani

Kishore Mahbubani argues that Asia's rise is not a passing trend but a structural shift in the global balance of power, one that is reshaping trade, technology, and politics. Rather than a story of Western decline, he offers a constructive, three-part strategy for how Western governments, companies, and institutions can adapt, regain influence, and build better relationships with a confident Asia. Audiences leave with a realistic, pragmatic roadmap for engaging with the Asian century instead of resisting it.

This keynote examines the most consequential relationship of our era: the rivalry between the United States and China. Mahbubani explores what each side wants, how their worldviews differ, and where their interests still overlap, and how their competition is reshaping alliances, institutions, technology standards, and supply chains. Moving past simplistic "Cold War 2.0" framing, he gives leaders a nuanced way to think through scenarios of confrontation, coexistence, and limited cooperation, so they can make better decisions today.

Mahbubani examines the twin realities of a relatively declining West and a rapidly rising East, and asks how the world can move toward a more stable and legitimate balance of power rather than an inevitable clash. He traces the long-term trends behind Asia's resurgence, from economic growth and demographics to technology and political confidence, while analyzing the structural challenges facing Western societies. He then sketches what a more balanced order could look like, and what reforms in global governance and trade would help get there, without sliding into zero-sum rivalry.

Mahbubani makes the case that the major economic, demographic, and technological trends of our time are all converging toward Asia. With historical depth, he explains how China and India are reshaping the global landscape, why he sees Europe as the past and the United States as the present, and how Asia is emerging as the center of the future. He also examines the risks that could alter the region's trajectory, offering audiences a concise guide to what the Asian century means for strategy, investment, and positioning.

Mahbubani connects geopolitics with one of the defining challenges of our time: protecting human security and advancing health equity amid overlapping crises. From pandemics and climate shocks to food insecurity and fragile supply chains, he shows how today's "polycrisis" exposes deep imbalances between and within countries, and why global health can no longer be treated as a purely technical or domestic issue. He offers a clear framework for how governments, businesses, and institutions can cooperate to reduce vulnerability and share the benefits of progress more fairly.