Ms Sabina Santarossa delivers a presentation on cultural exchange between Asia and Europe
“The world is movement, and you cannot be stationary in your attitude towards something that is moving” – Henri Cartier-Bresson, France’s legendary photographer.
Quoting Cartier-Bresson, the Director of ASEF’s Cultural Exchange Department, Ms Sabina Santarossa, noted that there was today a new approach by governments in cultural diplomacy. Ms Santarossa, one of two keynote speakers at a public talk on Asia-Europe relations, highlighted that exchanges between the two regions also have to take this into account.
Ms Santarossa felt this dynamism also existed in the regions’ celebration of cultural diversity. As governments increase efforts to preserve and support individual cultural identities, they contribute to people’s appreciation of their cultures. Human development did not mean only raising income per capita – it also requires advancing levels of knowledge, education and access to culture and creativity.
Mr Marc Ungeheuer, Ambassador and Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Singapore, underscored that the EU was the second largest trade partner of the ASEAN region, after China. A good partnership was the key to both regions’ success. He said a new dynamism was developing from this partnership. Such dynamism not only focused on trade but also on issues of common interest, including human rights, good governance and international justice.
This talk was organised by the EU Centre in Singapore at the National Library of Singapore (13 September 2011).