Dear Delegates, Faculty, and Affiliates,

On behalf of the Executive Board and staff of Harvard Model Congress Asia, it is my great honor to welcome you to the 22nd annual session of Harvard Model Congress Asia, to be held in Tokyo from January 6-8, 2026. My name is Emma Jing, and I am privileged to serve as President of HMCA 2026. I am currently a senior at Harvard College studying Government with a secondary in Sociology, and I previously served as a Director of Programs for both HMCA 2024 and 2025. I look forward to reuniting with returning delegates and faculty, as well as meeting many new faces in Tokyo.

Since its founding in 2004, HMCA has become the leading forum for cultural and intellectual exchange across the Asia-Pacific region, convening thousands of students to cultivate a network and community of engaged and informed future leaders. Building on the tremendous success of our 2025 conference, we are excited to create an even more immersive and meaningful educational experience in 2026. This year, we are especially proud to co-host the conference with the Asian Future Political Leaders Association Branch at the University of Tokyo, continuing HMCA’s tradition of transformative civic education. Delegates will participate in 15 dynamic committees, which will be chaired by 30 Harvard undergraduates who are eager to collaborate with you. Over the course of three days, you will have the chance not only to debate and propose solutions to pressing issues facing Asia, the United States, and the global community, but also to take the lessons learned here back to your own schools and communities.

I also have a few exciting updates to share with you all for our upcoming conference. First, the Executive Board is excited to continue rolling out our new interactive, multimedia educational modules. We hope these training materials, which include information about parliamentary procedure, bill-writing, and more, will help delegates in their preparation for the conference. Second, our Directors of Programs are thrilled to introduce three new committees for this year’s conference – House Select Committee on Intelligence, Senate Foreign Relations, and BRICS. Third, we will continue developing and streamlining the Scholarship Application process so that we can award scholarships in a more timely fashion. Finally, we will be providing more resources and mentorship before and during the conference, so that everyone, regardless of their prior experience, feels supported and confident as they enter this year’s conference.

At a moment when our world is grappling with profound civic challenges, we hope HMCA will equip you with the skills, insights, and conviction to confront these challenges in your own communities. For us, this conference is not an endpoint but a beginning, as it becomes a catalyst for deeper engagement with public service and civic leadership. As we count down to January, please know that the Executive Board, staff, and I cannot wait to welcome you to Tokyo for HMCA 2026. If you have any questions about the registration process or the conference itself, please reach out to the Faculty Liaison, Angelina Xu, at faculty@hmcasia.org. Onward to Japan!

With immense gratitude,

Emma Jing

President | Harvard Model Congress Asia 2026