Dear Friends of ASEF
As we bid farewell to the year and welcome 2015, I would like to extend my New Year’s greetings and wish you a joyful and prosperous year ahead.
I would also like to take this opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments this year and share our plans for the coming year.
In 2014, ASEF contributed its share to the success of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Milan, Italy where we organised 2 events, Model ASEM 2014 and the 7th ASEF Editors’ Roundtable, on the side-lines of the Summit. With the enlargement of the ASEM membership at the Summit, we happily welcome Croatia and Kazakhstan to join the ASEF family.
I would like to thank the ASEF Governors, our colleagues in the ASEM Governments, our partner organisations, participants, alumni, as well as supporters, friends and the entire ASEF team. Your dedication and support has enabled us to achieve our goals and successfully implement more than 25 projects and 122 activities. Our projects promoted human connectivity, enhanced mutual understanding and contributed to a sustainable and fruitful relationship between Asia and Europe.
In 2015, ASEF will continue to play its complementary role as the sole institution of the ASEM process. The 6 thematic areas will remain to be the focus of ASEF’s work. At the same time, we will address new challenges in the fields of climate change, sustainable development, urbanisation, e-learning, etc. Alongside the ASEM Ministerial Meetings next year, especially the 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM12), we plan to organise several events, among them are the ASEF Cultural Policy Dialogue Series, ASEF Young Leaders Summit, 15th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights, 10th ASEF Journalists’ Colloquium, and 4th ASEM Rectors’ Conference & Students’ Forum. We will also contribute actively to the preparation of commemorating ASEM’s 20th Anniversary in 2016.
We look forward to an exciting year ahead for ASEF. You may wish to stay informed about our projects, activities, updates, new publications and calls by subscribing to our monthly ASEF eNewsletter or by following us through our social media channels.
Wishing you the best for 2015!
Ambassador ZHANG Yan
Executive Director