The Annual Meeting of the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) was held on July 26, 2015. It was hosted by Suranaree University of Technology (SUT) in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The occasion also marked the 20th anniversary of the AUAP. About 200 leaders of a number of colleges and universities in the Asia-Pacific region attended this conference. The opening ceremony was presided over by Prof. Dr. Ricardo Pama, the General Secretary of the AUAP.

The President of the AUAP, Dr. Shawn Chen, who is also the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Sias, gave the introductory speech and a detailed report about the AUAP's organizational functioning, membership requirements, existing members, and its financial revenue. He also spoke about the next AUAP meeting that will be held in Taiwan in December.

Prof. Dr. Neal King, the President of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), spoke about the organizational relationship between the AUAP and the IAUP, the purposes of this relationship, and the membership requirements of the IAUP. Dr. Edward Hammond, former president of Fort Hays State University in Kansas, U.S.A., spoke about the conditions for the annual selection of host cities, and the preparations involved for these meetings.

On the afternoon of the 26th, the AUAP held bilateral and multilateral agreement signing ceremonies for several member universities.

In the evening, at the anniversary celebrations, Dr. Shawn Chen gave a speech and presented a trophy and certificate to Prof. Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, to thank him for founding the AUAP, and for his outstanding contributions toward its development.

On the 27th, SUT hosted a seminar titled "AUAP after 20 years: The integration of ASEAN higher education and multilateral cooperation". Dr. Shawn Chen spoke at and opened this conference. Delegates spoke of the challenges of globalization and the multilingual environment during cultural exchanges and other aspects of communication.

The AUAP annual meeting at Suranaree University of Technology in Thailand

President of the AUAP, Dr. Shawn Chen

General Secretary of the AUAP, Prof. Dr. Ricardo Pama

President of the IAUP, Prof. Dr. Neal King

Founder & President of Africa Asia Scholars Global Network, Abdul 'Dewale Mohammed

Founder President of the AUAP, Prof. Dr. Wichit Srisa-an

Former President of AUAP, Professor Datuk Dr. Noor Azlan Ghazali

Rector of Danubius University, Dr. Andy Pușcă

Former President of Fort Hays State University, Dr. Edward Hammond,

A delegate speaking

Dr. Shawn Chen speaking with delegates

Dr. Shawn Chen speaking with delegates

Dr. Shawn Chen and Dr. Sunghee Nam, Vice President of the AUAP

Delegates interacting

The AUAP leadership

Dr. Shawn Chen presented trophies and certificates

Dr. Shawn Chen presented Prof. Dr. Wichit Srisa-an with a trophy and certificate

Dr. Shawn Chen delivering the closing speech

AUAP delegates

Dr. Shawn Chen planting a tree

Dr. Shawn Chen with the Director of Development of AUAP, Joshua Reitzel