Recent Astronomical Development in Asia Pacific Rim

For over two decades The Pacific Rim Conference oil Stellar Astrophysics series has been held exclusively at the Asian Rim. The primary reason is that the majority of nations in Asia are less developed in Astronomy than many countries on the American Rim. At time same time, many nations in Asia are less able to afford the costs of long distance travel for astronomical conferences. As a result Asia has had a hold on the Pacific Rim Conferences. Over the last few years new research institutes have been coming on board. The ones that have most visibly emerged are; National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, NARIT, The Astrophysical Research Center for the Structure and Evolution of the Cosmos, ARCSEC, and Kavli Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University, KIAA-PKU. It is interesting to note the development and structure of each is very different. So far they all appear to be working well. Hopefully they will provide a variety of models for astronomical institutes in developing nations of the region and perhaps beyond.