Asia-Europe Foundation - ASEF

We're excited to announce the latest update to 's website! Check it out at https://hubs.ly/Q02HLTgx0.

🖼️ Carousel Banner – Featuring ’s identities and latest news the banners make it easy to navigate to something that excites you.
🗓️ Calendar of Upcoming Events – Quickly find our current projects and upcoming events projects with just a click on the calendar displayed on our homepage.
📽️ Videos – Love videos? So do we! Our new homepage features the latest videos on global issues, especially those focusing on and .

📖 We welcome your feedback! Comment below if you love our new look or if you have suggestions for further improvements. We hope to hear from you!

📅 The Call for Nominations closes on 4 August!

The ASEF Public Diplomacy Training ( ) programme is designed to equip early-career diplomats with practical skills and knowledge needed to create successful public diplomacy campaigns and activities. It allows participants to learn from experienced professionals, gain hands-on experience and network with fellow diplomats and experts in the field.

⏰ The deadline to nominate is fast approaching, and you do not want to miss out on this valuable opportunity to sharpen your public diplomacy skills!

👉 Find out more https://hubs.ly/Q02HbJtW0 and secure your place today!

From 10-13 June 2024, 18 participants across and from the and government sector gathered for the 2nd edition of ASEF LinkUp | Asia-Europe Cultural Diplomacy Lab, held in Prague, 🇨🇿.

Through the various activities, fruitul conversations on and were shared, generating many interesting on topics such as:
🗺️ Navigating exchanges between the Global North and South
🎭 Foregrounding the intrinsic value of the and culture in cultural relations

Today, the participants also came together to share their final thoughts on the and recap their co-created insights on cultural cooperation.

Read the main highlights of 2024 on ASEF Culture360: https://hubs.ly/Q02H2zXt0

The Lab is organised by in partnership with the Arts and Theatre Institut, Institut umění - Divadelní ústav and PerformCzech, with the support of the 🇪🇺, 🇧🇪 and 🇩🇰.

---
Photo credits: Adéla Vosičková

Watch this video highlighting the aims of the WHO-ASEF Joint Project: Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) by Strengthening Primary Healthcare (PHC) which was held in Thailand from 15-17 May 2024. Building on the outcomes of ASEF PHN's 2023 high-level conference, this workshop was designed to facilitate the integration of AMR interventions into health systems, emphasising the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). With pilot programs in priority countries like Indonesia and Thailand, the project targets improved health services and resource efficiency, aiming to reduce health inequities.

WHO-ASEF Joint Project on AMR: Thailand Country Mission, 15-17 May 2024 On 15-17 May 2024, Thailand’s national workshop on mainstreaming antimicrobial resistance (AMR) interventions into primary healthcare (PHC) was jointly organ...

On Monday, 8 July, our Education Department ASEFEdu kicked off the research process for their Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Report!

As part of their new Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Initiative, ASEFEdu has invited academics, diplomats, professionals, and students to act as Country Informants; tasked with mapping national Science and Technology Diplomacy strategies and actions across ASEF’s member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the European Union.

The Kick-off and Welcome Session speakers from ASEFEdu partner Barecelona SciTechDiploHub, as well as from the European Commission, who provided introductions to the Science and Technology Diplomacy field and its importance for geopolitics and Asia-Europe relations.

We are so intrigued to follow the research journey of the Country Informants, and to see how their contributions will promote intellectual exchange and contribute to further understanding of Science & Technology Diplomacy landscapes in Asia and Europe.

Want to learn more about the Asia-Europe Science & Technology Diplomacy Initiative? Read more about it here: https://hubs.ly/Q02GwMF90

On 11-12 July 2024, ASEF Governors from more than 50 countries across Asia and Europe, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and European Union (EU) gathered in Bali, Indonesia for the 45th ASEF Board of Governors Meeting ( ).

The main outcome of the discussion was the election of ASEF’s new leadership for 2024-2028. The Board bid farewell to our current Executive Director, Ambassador MORIKAWA Toru, while expressing their appreciation for all his accomplishments during his 4-year term.

Find out more: https://hubs.ly/Q02Gm84k0

Kementerian Luar Negeri RI European External Action Service - EEAS ASEAN

New Executive Director (ED) and Deputy Executive Director (DED) appointed today by BoG. Congratulations to Ms Beata STOCZYNSKA, who will become the first ASEF ED from Poland and the first female ED of ASEF, as well as to Mr ZHANG Lei of China who will be the next DED! Current ASEF ED Ambassador Toru MORIKAWA will be stepping down in September 2024 after completing his four-year term.

Read more at: https://hubs.ly/Q02G9jH90

📣 We are proud to share that had its Team Learning Phase’s closing session last week! This marked the successful culmination of the online cohort’s nine-week learning and networking journey. In this session, the groups shared the highlights of their position papers and showcased the ideas they have been working on regarding “Universities Role in Innovation Ecosystems in 2060.”

🌐 Our final cohort of 87 participants come from 31 countries in and —all working on AI-related initiatives in their universities. We sincerely thank them for their commitment to sharing knowledge and building connections!

🚀 With the expert facilitation of Dr Claudio Rivera and Dr Paula Elksne of the Riga Technical University's Riga Business School, our participants used the Scenario Planning Method to work on a variety of specific topics relating to the subthemes of AI , AI in , and AI for . They were grouped together based on topics of interest and assigned a Mentor to assist in facilitating group discussions and exchanges as they worked on developing their paper during the month-long Team Learning Phase.

💡 acknowledges the work of the ASEFInnoLab5 Mentors in creating opportunities for effective exchanges for their assigned groups. Having engaged the project’s previous editions, they have remained as active alumni of the programme and instrumental to the success of the ASEFInnoLab5 online phase.

📚 ASEFInnoLab, currently running its fifth edition, continues its work on dissecting the present and envisioning the future of “Universities’ Role in AI Innovation Ecosystems”. ASEFEdu is now preparing for the ASEFInnoLab5 publication, which will be a compendium of the best position papers produced by the online cohort; and the onsite event to be hosted by our partner, Fudan University in October 2024 in Shanghai, China.

On Tuesday, 2 July, ASEFEdu launched the Capacity Buildings 2024 programme and welcomed their participants to the Opening Session of the online Knowledge Building Phase taking place throughout the month of July.

The ASEFYLS Capacity Buildings 2024 is a youth leadership programme focusing on ‘Leadership in Society 5.0’, with collaborative programme elements taking place both virtually and physically.

For the first Opening Session, ASEFEdu had the honour of welcoming Mr Carsten BECK, Futurist and Director at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, and Dr Kazuo YANO, Fellow at 日立製作所 / Hitachi, Ltd. and CEO of Happiness Planet. We are eager to see how these 80 young leaders joining from all across Asia and Europe will contribute to the programme and look forward to witnessing how they will apply their learnings and share their knowledge within their local communities.

Want to learn more about the ASEFYLS Capacity Buildings 2024? Make sure to follow ASEFEdu for future updates and visit our website for more information: https://hubs.ly/Q02FlLYG0

We were honoured to have Ambassador Ishikawa witness the signing of the MoU between and the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Japan has been a longstanding supporter of ASEF in enhancing international cooperation in the field of public health.

We look forward to the positive impact the partnership with NUS SSHSPH will bring!

📢 Call for nominations!

Are you a junior/mid-career working on Asia-Europe relations and/or ? If yes, you may be interested in learning that we have just launched the Call for Nominations for our upcoming 12th ASEF Public Diplomacy Training ( )!

In this 6-week hybrid training course, you will learn about the strategic significance of public diplomacy and gain the practical skills required to develop, deliver and evaluate effective campaigns and projects.

👉 Find out more on how to apply https://hubs.ly/Q02DlYLY0 and secure your nomination today!

📆 Nomination submission deadline is Sunday, 4 August 2024.

On June 21, Culture marked the beginning of the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival 2024 with our curtain raiser event: a preview of the cross-cultural musical , BRIDGE ✨🎶

Jointly crafted by musicians from Siong Leng ( ) and Tempo Reale ( ), BRIDGE enraptured audiences with its unique blend of traditional and Euro-American sounds, made possible with the support of Temenggong Artists-in-Residence and the ASEF-Temenggong Cultural 🎍

Following this promising start, a full performance of BRIDGE will take place in Rovereto, Italy on 1 September, at the Mart – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in the framework of

See the full programme with artists from and here: Asia-Europe Cultural Festival 2024: Programme announced! | ASEF culture360 🏛️

---

The is organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation - ASEF with the support of the EU Centre in Singapore in partnership with Oriente Occidente and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Udenrigsministeriet and the National Arts Council Singapore
Venue partners: MUSE - Museo delle Scienze and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto
Thanks to: Goethe-Institut

During the MoU Signing Ceremony between ASEF and NUS on 14 June 2024, Professor Teo Yik-Ying (Dean of SSHSPH) highlighted the importance of data-driven and real-world approaches to address health challenges alongside rational, evidence-based policy-making to strengthen health systems and health policies in countries, especially in and .


Get updates from the ASEF Public Health Network! Sign up here: https://hubs.ly/Q02CM1g-0

is proud to present BRIDGE, a harmonious blend of “ from the South” of China and experimental Euro-American sound art 🔊🎵

Crafted through the ASEF-Temenggong Cultural which supports across and , BRIDGE is the result of 6 months of between Siong Leng (Singapore) 🇸🇬 and Tempo Reale (Italy) 🇮🇹 and will be performed in Rovereto, on 1 September as part of the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival 2024 🎊

will present a preview of BRIDGE this Friday 21 June in in collaboration with Temenggong Artists-in-Residence as the official curtain raiser of the festival, exemplifying the cross-cultural artistic expressions anticipated in its diverse programme ✨🎶
_____

The Festival is organised by ASEF with the support of the European Union in Singapore in partnership with Oriente Occidente and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Udenrigsministeriet and the National Arts Council Singapore
Venue partners: MUSE - Museo delle Scienze and Mart - Museo di arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto
Thanks to: Goethe-Institut

was in Prague, 🇨🇿 last week for the 2nd edition of ASEFLinkUp | Asia-Europe Cultural Diplomacy Lab!

ASEF Culture Department Director Valentina Riccardi had the pleasure to visit Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Praga and meet with Director Vito De Bellis. Thank you for the warm welcome and for the exchange of ideas on enhancing ways of working in 🤝.

Find out more about and - cultural exchanges on ASEF Culture360: https://hubs.ly/Q02C0KGy0

The Asia-Europe Foundation, acting through its Public Health Network (ASEF PHN), which is funded by the Japanese government, together with the National University of Singapore, acting through its Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (NUS SSHSPH), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic partnership with NUS empowers ASEF to address critical agendas on Public Health Emergencies (PHEs), such as Risk Communication and Antimicrobial Resistance. By bolstering global health security, our collaboration is poised to make a significant and lasting impact across Asia and Europe, fostering a healthier and safer future for all.

Signatories to the MoU are Ambassador MORIKAWA Toru (ASEF's Executive Director) and Professor TEO Yik-Ying (Dean of NUS SSHSPH), as witnessed by H.E. ISHIKAWA Hiroshi, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Japan to Singapore and Professor Leo TAN, ASEF Governor from Singapore. The MoU Signing Ceremony was held on 14 June 2024 at the ASEF Conference Room in Singapore.

ASEF and the Education Department ASEFEdu had the pleasure of welcoming teachers and students of the Saceda Youth Lead International Program from the Philippines this 12 June 2024 – coinciding with the Philippines Independence Day!🇵🇭

During their visit, we engaged in enriching discussions on the critical role of teachers in educating the next generation. Through the lens of ASEFEdu’s ASEF Young Leaders Summit [ ] and ASEFClassNet project [ ], we explored innovative ways of empowering young people, the transformative potential of AI and technology in education, and how teachers can leverage pedagogy and technology to inspire and engage their students.💡

We delved into discussions on the impact of AI and technology on education, such as its effect on critical thinking skills of youth; potential widening of the digital divide between countries and regions; and how technology should act as a tool to support teachers, not as a tool to replace them.🤖

Meeting such dedicated and passionate teachers reassures us that the future of education is in capable hands.👩‍🏫

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dave Saceda and the Saceda Youth Lead School for visiting us and wish them a fulfilling and enlightening stay in Singapore!

is pleased to announce the 6th edition of the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival, which will be held in Rovereto and Trento, , in collaboration with the local festival Oriente Occidente, from 30 August – 7 September 2024 🎊🙌

This year’s edition will present a diverse array of artistic expressions, including , , and , featuring talents from 🇨🇳, 🇵🇭, 🇩🇪, 🇮🇳, Italy 🇮🇹, Kingdom 🇬🇧, 🇸🇬, 🇻🇳, and beyond 🎶💃📽️

PROGRAMME
🎙️ Sound of X (Video Art Exhibition)
🕺 Last Portrait (Contemporary Dance)
🌱 Biomodd [TT015] (Art Installation)
💬 BREAKING BOUNDARIES: Rethinking Art, Technology and Sustainability for the Future (Roundtable)
🎵 BRIDGE (Music)
💃 The Rite of Spring (Contemporary Dance)

Since its inception in 2018, has served as a testament to the rich tapestry of between and , fostering and igniting between two continents known for their and 🌏🌍

See the full programme and ticket booking details here: https://hubs.ly/Q02BFQXK0
___

The Festival is organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation - ASEF with the support of the European Union in Singapore in partnership with Oriente Occidente and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Udenrigsministeriet and the National Arts Council Singapore
Venue partners: MUSE - Museo delle Scienze and Mart - Museo di arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto
Thanks to: Goethe-Institut

📣ASEF YOUTH SURVERY 2024

Are you between the ages of 18-30 from Asia or Europe? Then our Education Department want your input!

Our Education Department ASEFEdu is conducting their ASEF Youth Survey 2024, focusing on Society 5.0 & Digital Preparedness of Youth across Asia and Europe, the results of which will be compiled into a report on the topic.

❓We are asking youth: What are some of the biggest challenges facing society today?; What skills - technological or soft skills - are necessary in order to address these challenges?; and, are youth responsible themselves for acquiring and developing these skills, or should they be offered support by the government, businesses, or civil society?

💻We want to know what you think! Please fill out the survey and contribute to the report by following the link here: https://hubs.ly/Q02BdKw40

💡Want to know more?
Read last year's ASEF Youth Report | Stepping into Society 5.0: Youth Perspectives on Technology-informed Societal Leadership here: https://hubs.ly/Q02BdPnT0

Day 1️⃣ of has come to a close! So many great discussions as well as an introduction to the Prague cultural scene. ASEF Executive Director Ambassador Morikawa Toru officially launched the programme and spoke at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, with the Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky and the Czech Centres Director General Jitka Panek Jurkova.

As Ambassador Morikawa Toru said to the gathering, ASEF LinkUp, aspires to provide a safe space for meaningful conversations and networking opportunities, advocating for alternative understandings of cultural diplomacy and new forms of cultural relations. The programme continues to build on the strong ties between regions, leveraging the power of culture to bring Asians and Europeans closer together.

The is organised by in partnership with the Arts and Theatre Institute, and .czech, with the support of the , and .

Learn more about the programme and what we can look forward to in the coming days here: https://hubs.ly/Q02B8SMC0

ASEF Executive Director, Amb Morikawa Toru, welcomed at ASEF Mrs Lone THORUP, ASEF Governor for Denmark. Mrs. Thorup is also the Chief Advisor at the Department for Asia, Latin America and Oceania at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

During the visit, Directors of various departments provided insights on the achievements of their projects and those that will benefit from Denmark’s funding.

Mrs Thorup conveyed Denmark’s strong support to ASEF & ASEF initiatives, expressed not only through its involvement in the activities of the organisation, but also by its increasing financial contributions to ASEF.

ASEF remains committed to forging closer ties and mutually beneficial cooperation between Asia and Europe.

Udenrigsministeriet

ASEFEdu was happy to contribute to the 2024 Global Lifelong Learning Week organized by the ASEM Education and Research Hub on Lifelong Learning (ASEM LLL Hub) that convened 200 researchers, policymakers and stakeholders from over 40 countries to exchange insights, network and discuss opportunities for collaboration between 27-31 May at University College Cork, Ireland.

Read more about the event here: https://hubs.ly/Q02zWFpl0

Happy World Environment Day 2024!
Collective action has never been more crucial as we face the mounting challenges of climate change, deforestation, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

The 2023 IPCC report highlights the urgency: we must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050 to keep global warming below 1.5°C.

Despite this, global emissions continue to rise, bringing more extreme storms, floods, wildfires, and heatwaves. The World Meteorological Organization reports a surge in floods affecting half the planet and increased drought events impacting one-third.

At , we're committed to promoting collaboration between and to tackle these environmental challenges. Visit our ASEMInfoBoard's "Topic of the Month: Environmental Protection" to learn more about Asia-Europe initiatives and the ongoing efforts to protect the environment. Access the link here: https://hubs.ly/Q02zCx5_0

Join us in celebrating World Environment Day and take action for a sustainable future!

In conjunction with the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, the ASEF Public Health Network organised "Linking the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) with the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and better Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR)" on 30 May 2024 as a side event. Ambassador MORIKAWA Toru emphasised that in 2023 only 27% of countries that developed their AMR national action plans reported implementing key steps effectively and only 11% had allocated national budgets to do so. Our side event highlighted that a People Centred Approach (PCA) is the way to go to overcome the difficulties - ASEF enjoins its to integrate mitigation strategies into , which serves as , as a necessary step to minimise the AMR threat to global public health and socio-economic development.

Read the concept note here:
https://hubs.ly/Q02zz72h0

✨ Curtain Raiser of the 6th Edition of Asia-Europe Cultural Festival ✨

ASEF is pleased to open the 6th Edition of the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival 2024 in 🇸🇬! Ahead of the full in 🇮🇹, and Temenggong Artists-in-Residence present the preview of BRIDGE, the Festival Curtain Raiser, on 21 June. BRIDGE is a concert by Tempo Reale (Italy) and Siong Leng (Singapore) which brings together , a traditional Chinese folk music, with electronics and sound 🎶🎼 This exciting is supported through the ASEF-Temenggong Cultural for artists in and in the framework of the 👏

The full BRIDGE performance will be staged in Rovereto, Italy in September 2024 along with more remarkable performances, exhibitions and discussions for 🕺🎤🎊

Stay tuned for the latest updates! ✅

---

This event is organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) in collaboration with Temenggong Artists-In-Residence, with the patronage of the Ambasciata d’Italia a Singapore. The event is by invitation only.

will be organising a side event titled "Linking the global and local antimicrobial resistance (AMR) response with the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and better Pandemic Preparedness and Response (PPR) - AMR people centered approach" later today at 7 PM (CET), in Room Madrid of InterContinental Genève. Do join us if you are in the vicinity!

Find out more: https://asef.org/projects/asefphn_wha77/

is excited to welcome 17 diverse participants for ASEF LinkUp | Asia-Europe Cultural Diplomacy Lab 2024! 🙌

For the 2nd Edition of , 9 practitioners and 8 government professionals from the 🇬🇧, 🇸🇮, 🇵🇭, 🇮🇳, 🇲🇲, 🇹🇭, 🇯🇵, 🇫🇷, 🇩🇪, 🇭🇺, 🇮🇩, 🇱🇻, 🇸🇬 and 🇨🇿 are joining us as we link up the arts sector to the government and create better synergies between them for cultural development 🔗🆙

Ahead of our in-person activities in Prague from 10-13 June, the participants shared their experiences in , emphasising the significance of providing opportunities for cultural actors at the grassroots to discuss their needs on the basis of mutual benefits, and working collaboratively to foster stronger - 🤝

The Lab is organised by ASEF Culture360 in partnership with the Arts and Theatre Institute, Institut umění - Divadelní ústav and PerformCzech with the support of the 🇪🇺, 🇧🇪and 🇩🇰

Know more about our participants and their shared insights here:
💭 Arts sector: https://hubs.ly/Q02yMfQ70
💡 Government sector: https://hubs.ly/Q02yMgK30

Attention Young Journalists!

The presence of AI in newsrooms is inevitable. The next step is to develop strategies to harness AI’s potential while maintaining journalistic integrity.
Join us at : "AI and Digital Journalism: Opportunities and Challenges" and explore the future of news.
From AI-driven content creation to combating fake news, discover how technology is transforming the media landscape. Engage with industry experts, share your insights, and collaborate with peers from across and .

Mark your calendars for 9-12 September 2024 and be part of our dialogue! Apply today and join the conversation: https://hubs.ly/Q02yKHhJ0

Asia-Europe Foundation - ASEF promotes understanding strengthens relationships and facilitates cooperation among the people,

ASEF PHN was given the privilege of joining the Ministerial Side Meeting in Geneva, organized by the Government of Japan, WHO WPRO, and WHO SEARO, focusing on combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Recognizing its profound impact on health and economies, the meeting endorsed a joint position paper to accelerate action. Progress is underway, but more must be done. Together, we can overcome this challenge.

In Photo: Akihisa SHIOZAKI, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan