News

At the initiative of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 26th Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Board of Governors Meeting will take place in Vilnius on 12-13 May. Members of the ASEF Board of Governors or their representatives from 48 European and Asian countries will assemble to attend the two-day event. In Vilnius, they will review the strategy and directions for activities of the foundation, and will adjust them to the objectives of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

ASEM is a process of dialogue bringing together all the member states of the European Union and 20 countries in Asia and Oceania. At the initiative of participating countries, specific projects of cooperation between Europe and Asia in political, economic and socio-cultural fields are implemented.

ASEF is a non-profit organization and the only formal institution of ASEM, established in Singapore in 1997 to promote greater mutual understanding between Asia and Europe through intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Lithuania became a member of ASEM and ASEF in 2004. Since then, a few tens of representatives from Lithuanian non-governmental organizations, journalists, members of academic community have participated in ASEF programmes in various countries around the world.

This is the first ASEF Board of Governors Meeting in the Baltic States. As an active participant in ASEF programmes, Lithuania is entitled to host the Board of Governors Meeting in Vilnius, and, thus to present the history and cultural heritage of Vilnius and Lithuania to a broad circle of European and Asian countries.

In conjunction with the ASEF Board of Governors Meeting, the Asia-Europe Dialogue: “Demographic Changes in Asia and Europe: Challenges for the Youth” will be held on 12 May at Mykolas Romeris University. Speakers from Finland, Lithuania, the Philippines and Singapore will share the latest aspects of this global challenge and will discuss this issue with representatives from youth organizations and politicians.

The dialogue is intended to focus on the problems caused by an aging society. Participants will discuss potential youth initiatives, programmes and other measures that could enhance solidarity between younger and older generations.

This dialogue is organized by ASEF in partnership with Mykolas Romeris University and the ASEF University Alumni Network (ASEFUAN).

During the event, representatives from the Foundation will donate 115 books to Mykolas Romeris University. The books were recently published by ASEF on topics such as culture, education, human rights, leadership, intercultural dialogue, media and youth.