ASEF’s significant role in reinforcing the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process was re-emphasised at the 7th ASEM Culture Ministers’ Meeting on 22-24 June 2016 in Gwangju, Korea. The Ministers commended ASEF’s efforts in facilitating bi-regional dialogue in arts and culture among the 53 ASEM partners. In particular, the Ministers valued the ASEF Public Forum and ASEF Policy Panel Series in translating key recommendations of ASEM Culture Ministers’ Meetings into concrete activities involving the civil society.
ASEM Culture Ministers similarly recognised the role of the ASEF’s arts and culture portal, culture360.asef.org, and the specialised website on museums in Asia and Europe, asemus.museum, in connecting museums in the two regions.
In conjunction with the Ministerial Meeting, ASEF also presented the 2nd edition of the publication “Cities: Living Labs for Culture? Case Studies from Asia and Europe”, a collection of 27 case studies of policies and practices in culture and the creative economies in the context of 40 cities in 44 Asian and European countries.