CALD Delegation Participates in Liberal International ExCom in The Hague

“…CALD will not only remain as your trusted partner, but will actively stand as your most reliable ally in Asia, relentlessly driving forward our collective and shared vision for a freer, more democratic world.”

CALD Chairperson and Cambodian Senator Mardi Seng uttered these words in the opening session of the 209^th Liberal International (LI) Executive Committee Meeting in The Hague, Netherlands on 21-23 November 2025.

Seng made this commitment after providing an overview of CALD’s work in 2025 focusing on three strategic areas: (1) holding political dialogues on Artificial Intelligence, the South China Sea and Ukraine; (2) training its members and allies on leadership; and (3) expanding its network and impact in the Asian region.

Apart from Seng, CALD was represented in the event by CALD Secretary General Francis Gerald “Blue” Abaya, CALD Women’s Caucus Chairperson Jaslyn Go, CALD Individual Member Sin Chung-kai and CALD Executive Director Lito Arlegue. Representatives from its member-parties also attended including Members of Legislative Yuan Puma Shen and Fan Yun (Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan), Member of Japanese House of Representatives Yosuke Suzuki (Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan) and party officials Kimhun Thit, Michelle Lim and Mab Leang (Cambodia National Rescue Party).

These delegates all took part in the side-event “Security in the Indo-Pacific and Europe: Development, Issues and Challenges” jointly organized by CALD and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party.  The ALDE Party delegation included Baroness Sal Brinton, ALDE Party vice president and LI Human Rights Committee chairperson, Yevheniia Kravchuk, ALDE Party vice president and member of parliament in Ukraine, and Andrew Burgess, ALDE Party senior political adviser.

The UK Liberal Democrats was also well-represented with David Chalmers, chair of Liberal Democrat Federal International Relations Committee; Phil Bennion, LI representative; and Devin O’Shaughnessy, senior manager for international programs, providing their insights. Henrik Bach Mortensen, vice president and chairman of LI Working Group on Security and Defense completes the line-up of speakers.

“The future of security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and indeed, globally, will be defined by our collective ability to adapt, to innovate, and to stand united against forces that seek to undermine our shared values and interests”, said CALD Secretary General Francis Abaya in his closing remarks. “This compels us to think beyond geographical silos and to recognize the global nature of these security dilemmas in our unwavering pursuit of a more secure future for all.”

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This post was written by CALD