Corporate
Chair's Message
ASEF’s achievements are made possible by the strong commitment and support of its main stakeholders, the ASEM governments, ASEF’s partners and participants, and most importantly, by my fellow Governors and the highly dedicated ASEF management team and staff.
For nearly two decades, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) has played a pivotal role as a forum for dialogue and cooperation connecting Asia and Europe. The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) is the only institution of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and was established to promote exchanges and forge mutual understanding between the two regions. As ASEM grew in strength from its original 26 to 53 partners, so did ASEF.
ASEF interlinks the ASEM partners with other stakeholders. Through its multi-faceted programmes and projects, ASEF provides platforms to different interest groups from the civil societies of Asia and Europe to connect with each other. It also facilitates the sharing of contributions, from the civil society members, with the governments of ASEM Members.
Since its inception in 1997, ASEF’s activities have involved over 20,000 participants and 750 partner institutions. In 2015, ASEF was instrumental in complementing the ASEM process by bringing together civil societies from both Asia and Europe and channelling their voices to the decision makers of both regions such as at the 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting (ASEM FMM12) in Luxembourg in which ASEF’s contributions were acknowledged.
2015 also witnessed some changes in the leadership of ASEF’s Board of Governors. It is a great honour for me to be the successor of my friend, H.E. Ambassador Claude BLANCHEMAISON from France. I will do my best to follow his excellent example as well as to be guided by my colleagues and ASEF’s Executive Director, Ambassador ZHANG Yan, to help decide future projects and avenues of the organisation as well as address new issues and challenges.
ASEF’s achievements are made possible by the strong commitment and support of its main stakeholders, the ASEM governments, ASEF’s partners and participants, and most importantly, by my fellow Governors and the highly dedicated ASEF management team and staff. I would like to thank the ASEF team for their hard work, dedication and belief in ASEF’s vision and mission in bringing together the people and institutions of Asia and Europe.
