The Asia Society is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational institution and a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in New York City. It was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd to foster an understanding of Asia and communication between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific. The original problem it sought to solve was explaining aspects of Asia to Americans. The institution works by presenting a wide range of programs, including major art exhibitions, international corporate conferences, and contemporary affairs programs. Its mechanism involves a pan-Asian approach, looking at all of Asia without excluding any country or issue. Key components include the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI), a think tank founded in 2014, and the Center on U.S.-China Relations, established in 2006. The Society also operates a museum and has centers globally, including in Mumbai and Delhi. Around 2011, the Society refocused its efforts to augment partnerships among Asians and between Asians and Americans in areas like business and public policy. It connects to global policy discussions, hosting engagements with foreign ministers and being described by some as a participant in Track II diplomacy efforts. The organization is distinct from the Asiatic Society in Kolkata, which was established much earlier in 1784. Leadership recently changed, with Kevin Rudd returning as Global President and CEO in March 2026.
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India lies on the Indian Tectonic Plate, which is moving northeast at about 5 cm/year, causing seismic activity in the Himalayan region.
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