The year 2012 was a significant one in ASEF’s history, commemorating 15 years of successful collaboration amongst ASEM countries and uniting the peoples of Asia and Europe. Since its inception, the organisation has engineered common platforms for more than 17,000 direct participants to engage in over 600 projects spanning governance, economy, sustainable development, public health, culture, and education.

Today, ASEF is actively supported by 51 ASEM members, with Bangladesh, Norway and Switzerland inducted as the organisation’s newest constituencies in November 2012. The active involvement of the new members in ASEF is a notable testament to its continued relevance in facilitating Asia- Europe dialogue.

As part of its 15th anniversary celebrations, ASEF initiated a series of special projects and events designed to celebrate the spirit of sharing while cementing common goals for a shared future. These culminated in the introduction of the organisation’s new management team, Ambassador Zhang Yan as the 6th Executive Director and Mr Karsten Warnecke as the 6th Deputy Executive Director.

Helmed by new leadership, ASEF will persist in its role at the forefront of creating an increasingly entwined future where Asia and Europe are equal partners, by bringing people together to share a rich heritage, spaces, resources, learning, ideas, creativity and ambitions.