On 5-9 December 2016, ASEF and the Clingendael Institute organised the 4th Face-to-Face Asia-Europe Public Diplomacy Training in The Hague, the Netherlands. Initiated by ASEF in 2013 in partnership with DiploFoundation and the National Centre for Research on Europe (NCRE), the training is targeted at young, mid-level diplomats from ASEM partners working on Asia-Europe relations in their respective ministries.
This 5-day training was an opportunity for the young diplomats to strengthen their core diplomacy skills in international negotiations, crisis communication and e-diplomacy. 24 young diplomats from 24 ASEM countries learnt about cross-cultural perceptions that shape the image of Asian and European countries, and the importance of public diplomacy for nation branding. Participants also visited the Communications Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, where they gained insights into public diplomacy strategy and best practices of the Netherlands.
During the event, ASEF launched its newly-published ASEF Public Diplomacy Handbook: How to Win Hearts and Minds on 6 December 2016. An Experts’ Roundtable on Public Diplomacy was organised during this launch consisting of 6 representatives from the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland and the Netherlands, the media and academia. Experts highlighted the need for diplomats to increasingly build cross-sector partnerships to engage different stakeholders in their public diplomacy strategies and foster dialogue across borders and sectors. Published as part of the Asia-Europe Public Diplomacy Training Initiative, the ASEF Public Diplomacy Handbook provides diplomats and civil society actors with a theoretical foundation along with practical tools for constructing a successful public diplomacy approach in the context of Asia-Europe relations.
Click here to download the ASEF Public Diplomacy Handbook!