| ASEF’s Chair & new Vice-Chair with the Executive Director & new Deputy Executive Director at the 35th ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting | 35th ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting |
Elections and appointments of some key positions in the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) were made at the 35th Board of Governors’ Meeting on 1-2 December 2016 in Singapore. The ASEF Governor from Mongolia, who is also Ambassador of Mongolia to Singapore, Mr TUMUR Lkhagvadorj, was unanimously elected as Vice-Chair of the ASEF Board of Governors as well as ASEF Executive Committee (ExCo) Member for 2017. Also with unanimity, the Board decided to appoint Mr SUN Xiangyang from China as the new Deputy Executive Director of ASEF. In addition, the newly appointed ASEF Governor from the European Union, Dr Steven EVERTS, became a member of both the ASEF ExCo and the Finance and Audit Committee (FAC).
This was also the first ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting chaired by the ASEF Governor from Finland, Ms Eva BIAUDET, who took over the Chair position on 1 November this year. “I am truly proud of ASEF’s work, particularly when we have managed to create Asia-Europe face-to-face meeting points. Our common global challenges cannot be solved without real people coming together, wanting to work together, and learning to understand each other. That is what I as ASEF Governor strive for”, said Ms Biaudet.
The Vice-Chair, Ambassador Tumur, told the ASEF Board and staff that “the Mongolian people welcomed the 11th ASEM Summit in our capital with open hearts. Humbled by the support of our ASEF Governors, I will be honoured to serve this new appointment with the same open heart and mind.”
Ambassador Karsten WARNECKE, who became ASEF Executive Director on 1 November, warmly welcomed the new Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, as well as his Deputy: “I am delighted that we will be able to celebrate ASEF’s 20th anniversary in 2017 together with such inspiring leaders, such a supportive Board of Governors, and a Deputy Executive Director keen on promoting the Asian-European relationship, as well as a dedicated and productive ASEF team”, said Ambassador Warnecke.
“I look forward to being a member of the ASEF team, making my share of contribution to the cause of strengthening the Asia-Europe partnership”, Mr Sun said after attending his first ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting.
According to ASEF’s Legal Framework, the Board of Governors elects its own Chair and Vice-Chair for a term of 1 calendar year. If the Chair is European, the Vice-Chair shall be Asian, and vice versa. The ASEF Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director are also appointed by the Board of Governors, for a term of 4 years. Both of them must be citizens of ASEM countries. If the Executive Director is a European, the Deputy Executive Director should be an Asian, and vice versa. Ambassador Warnecke is the 7th Executive Director and Mr Sun is the 7th Deputy Executive Director since ASEF’s inception in 1997.
The ASEF ExCo comprises 6 Governors from Asia and 6 Governors from Europe, as well as the ASEF Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director. The ASEF FAC consists of 6 Governors: 3 Asians and 3 Europeans.
Prior to the ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting, the ASEF FAC and ExCo Meetings took place on 29 and 30 November 2016 respectively in Singapore.
Photos of the ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting can be found here.
Culture as “Glue in a Fractured World”: Expert Speech during 35th ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting
Ms Fionnuala CROKE, the Director of Ireland’s Chester Beatty Library, who is also the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS), addressed the 35th ASEF Board of Governors’ Meeting, on 1 December 2016.
Calling culture “glue in a fractured world”, Ms Croke underlined the role and relevance of museums and arts and cultural institutions as connectors between different societies and facilitators of inter-cultural dialogues. Drawing from the experience of her own museum in Dublin, she emphasised the universality of art and its great potential in connecting people across national and other borders. Ms Croke also acknowledged the growing role of culture in foreign relations and in addressing challenges to sustainable development.
The Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) is a network of 128 museums and 9 affiliate institutions, spread across 41 countries in Asia and Europe. All the member-museums feature Asian collections. The network facilitates sharing of museum collections, exchange of knowledge and collaborative activities among its members.