Executive Director's Message
I have had the opportunity to witness the remarkable evolution of ASEF since its early beginnings. Therefore, I am pleased to be today at the helm of this organisation, which aims to open new avenues of dialogue and interactions between Asians and Europeans.
In 2011, ASEF had once again the opportunity to demonstrate the relevance of its mandate. The financial crisis afflicting Europe raised critical questions and concerns in Asia. More than ever, a substantive dialogue is welcome in order to dispel arising misperceptions that could hamper the course of the Asia-Europe relationship.
Also in 2011, ASEF has implemented activities approved by the ASEF Board of Governors in 2010, and has begun to adjust its projects with consideration to its current circumstances. In 2012, with the support of its leadership, ASEF will continue to focus its resources on priority projects which correspond with the core of its mandate. In doing so, ASEF will fulfill its mission of implementing, in a practical way, the agenda set at the political level by the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process of which ASEF is its unique institution.
ASEF has also invited important opinion and policy makers to address relevant issues of the day, in particular through public talks. Amongst them were French intellectual Dr Jacques Attali who spoke on the topic “Is The Global Economy Still in Crisis?” (January 2011) and economic advisor to the Russian President Dr Igor Yurgens, who – with The Federation of Russia having joined ASEM in 2010 - shared his views on the topic “Russia in the Next Decade and Cooperation with Asia” (April 2011).
ASEF has also worked on strengthening Asia and Europe’s voice in the international arena. The Asia-Europe Environment Forum (ENVforum) programme embarked on the Asia-Europe Strategies for the Earth Summit 2012 workshop, a series of scenario-building workshops with a solution-oriented focus. This will hopefully contribute to the dialogue process on the way towards the Rio+20 Earth Summit.
Whereas the outcome of ASEF’s work may oftentimes be intangible, it also established solid outputs. The publication “Good Policing: Instruments, Models and Practices” is based on the spirit of sharing best practices and is being used by police academies in the training of their officers. The 11th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights “National and Regional Human Rights Mechanisms” held in Prague in November last year gave rise to a set of key recommendations, a detailed Seminar Report and a comprehensive Background Paper prepared by expert Rapporteurs.
In realm of the public health, young people at the community level were involved in an awareness campaign through the medium of theatre (“Health on Stage”, India, August - October 2011). To bring together young people from Asia and Europe, two other events were also organised in 2011. These were the “Atelier for Young Festival Managers” (Singapore, May 2011) and the “17th ASEF University” (Penang, June 2011). I invite you, the reader, to learn more about ASEF’s activities organised in 2011 by going through this comprehensive annual report.
ASEF will celebrate its 15th Anniversary in 2012. The Asia Europe Foundation is now a well-established institution. We owe this achievement to all of those who, over the past fifteen years, have made it as it is now. I wish to acknowledge their decisive contributions.
At a time when sudden changes are taking place in Europe and Asia, and at a time when short term analysis prevails, ASEF is determined to be even more responsive in order to address the topics of the day through in-depth exchanges of views between experts of the two regions and constructive dialogue that provides a reliable and neutral platform. ASEF will continue to make long term investments through sustainable programmes, as they reflect the vision which inspired the Foundation’s institution.
Responsive in the short term, commitment in the long term: these two dimensions will continue to shape ASEF.