Arts and Culture

OVERVIEW

This seminar, attended by 90 representatives from 17 ASEM countries, was held to recognise the vast diversity of ethnic groups across Asia and Europe. It reasserted and supported the aims of the ASEF in seeking ways to use culture to create links between Asia and Europe. Different methods and ways of creating such exchanges, particularly with the ethnic minority cultures of each country in mind, were explored.

THE OBJECTIVES

- Identify the current status of ethnic cultures in ASEM member countries

- Provide opportunities for networking among relevant specialists and institutions

- Enable exchanges of experiences or strategies for preserving the different ethnic cultures

Two workshop sessions were organised at the seminar to discuss the following topics:

- Concurrent situation on promotion of ethnic cultures

- Ethnic cultures in local economy

- Protection and development of ethnic cultures

- Promotion of international exchange on cultures of ethnic groups

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Office of the National Education Commission of Thailand