Back in March 1996, in Bangkok, ten leaders from East Asia met with their sixteen European counterparts at the 1st Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM1). One of the key outcomes of that meeting was an agreement to establish Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) in Singapore. ASEF was officially launched at a ceremony that coincided with the 1st meeting of the ASEM Foreign Ministers, in Singapore in 1997.
Since then, ASEF has been fulfilling its mandate of building bridges and connecting the people of the two regions based on mutual understanding through the intellectual, cultural, and people-to-people exchange. ASEF is the only permanent institution of the ASEM Process.
25 years after its establishment, ASEF gathered back in Bangkok, Thailand, the starting point of ASEM and ASEF. This is the first in-person meeting after two years of working primarily online. In addition to the 43rd ASEF Board of Governors Meeting, the gathering also celebrated ASEF 25th anniversary.
See list of Board of Governors here.
“ASEF is about humanity. It is about empowering and unifying the peoples of Asia and Europe through common values, collective efforts, and shared goals”
Dr Darmp SUKONTASAP, Chair of ASEF Board of Governors.
Opening Remarks Dr. Darmp SUKONTASAP – BoG43 Bangkok
“I believe that it is historic that we gather here in Bangkok, Thailand, the starting point of ASEM and ASEF, at the occasion of the 25th anniversary, to kick start again to think together to revisit our cornerstone – which is to serve as a platform for Asia-Europe dialogue”
Amb. Toru MORIKAWA, ASEF Executive Director.
Opening Remarks Amb. Toru MORIKAWA – BoG43 Bangkok
