ASEM celebrates 20 years of Asia-Europe Relations

29 February 2016
ASEM celebrates 20 years of Asia-Europe Relations
(L-R) EU Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn await the start of the 12th Asia Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers Meeting at the Convention Center in Luxembourg, 05 November 2015. Photo: Julien Warnand/EPA

Today, 1 March 2016, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) turns 20.  For the past 2 decades ASEM has played a pivotal role as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) said in a statement.
The ASEM Process was initiated in 1996 to establish and deepen the relations between Asia and Europe. The 1st ASEM Summit (ASEM1) was organised on 1-2 March 1996 in Bangkok, Thailand. Since then, the ASEM dialogue platform has been instrumental in addressing political, economic and socio-cultural issues to strengthen Asia-Europe connections in mutual respect and equal partnership. The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), established in 1997, is the only institution under the ASEM framework.
“The year 2016, has special importance for both ASEM and ASEF. ASEM partners will mark the 20th Anniversary of the ASEM Process and the ASEM leaders will gather at the 11th ASEM Summit (ASEM11) in Mongolia to discuss and plan the future of ASEM. ASEF will contribute meaningfully to this significant milestone in Asia-Europe relations with a set of events and publications, including the ASEF Photo Exhibition “On the Go” and the ASEF publication for ASEM’s 20th Anniversary,” highlighted Ambassador ZHANG Yan, ASEF Executive Director.
The “On the Go” exhibition consists of a selection of photos by budding and professional photographers from ASEM countries, visualising differences and similarities between Asians and Europeans. The exhibition was launched on 4 November 2015 in partnership with the City of Luxembourg alongside the 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM12) in Luxembourg. Following the launch, the photographs will be exhibited in a number of other ASEM countries as part of their celebration of the 20th Anniversary of ASEM.
The ASEM 20th Anniversary Publication is a selection of articles contributed by eminent political figures and government representatives from ASEM partners, commemorating ASEM’s evolution over the past two decades as well as looking to its future development. This publication will be distributed at the 11th ASEM Summit (ASEM11) to be held in July 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.