The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) teamed up with the National Centre for Research on Europe – University of Canterbury (NCRE) and the EU Centres Network – New Zealand (EUCN) to hold its first official event in New Zealand.
Held at the Parliament building in Wellington, the seminar, “Mutual Perceptions of Asia and the EU in a Changing Global Environment – The view from New Zealand”, was hosted by Charles Chauvel MP, Chairman of the New Zealand – EU Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The event opened with a traditional Maori welcome, the Whaikorero, welcoming all attendees. It was followed by the presentation of the latest findings of the “EU through the Eyes of Asia” research project. The study examines the public, opinion leader and media perceptions of the EU in 10 Asian ASEM countries, including New Zealand.
The seminar was a part of a series of briefings on the findings of ASEF’s research projects on ‘perceptions’. So far, the briefings have been held in 10 cities across Asia and Europe.