Voices from Asians and Europeans on "The Future of Asia-Europe Cooperation": An Essay Competition to Commemorate ASEF's 25th Anniversary

By Chua Thai Keong and Donny Suparman

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) is an inter-governmental, not-for-profit organisation that promotes understanding and interactions between Asia and Europe. In 2022-2023, ASEF is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The past 25 years have been an extraordinary opportunity to bring Asia and Europe closer. The next 25 years could be more challenging; in a fragmenting world, it could also mean a bigger role for ASEF given its bridging capabilities and its reputation as an honest broker. As the only permanent institution of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the future of ASEF is inextricably linked to ASEM.

How would Asia-Europe Cooperation look like 25 years from now? What are the driving forces? What do Asians and Europeans stand to gain or lose? What is at stake? What is your vision for ASEM's destination?

Voices from Asians and Europeans on The Future of Asia-Europe Cooperation: An Essay Competition Commemorating ASEF's 25th Anniversary collects 68 essays from Asians and Europeans that elaborate on this topic, seeking to answer these questions and present the hopes for the future of Asia-Europe cooperation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)
• Release date: Oct 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9789811876998

Book preview

The Future of Asia-Europe CooperationThe Future of Asia-Europe Cooperation

Voices from Asians and Europeans on The Future of Asia-Europe Cooperation: An Essay Competition to Commemorate ASEF's 25th Anniversary

Copyright © Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), 2023

ISBN 978-981-18-7698-1 (Physical)

ISBN 978-981-18-7699-8 (Digital)

Edited by

CHUA Thai Keong

Donny SUPARMAN

Published by

Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)

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The views and opinions expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can under no circumstances be attributed as the views or opinions of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).

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National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Name(s): Chua, Thai Keong, editor. | Suparman, Donny, editor.

Title: Voices from Asians and Europeans on the future of Asia-Europe cooperation : an essay competition commemorating ASEF's 25th anniversary / edited by ASEF Communications department, Chua Thai Keong, Donny Suparman.

Other Title(s):

Description: Singapore : published by Asia-Europe Foundation in conjunction with Pagesetters Services, [2023]

Identifier(s): ISBN 978-981-18-7698-1 (paperback) | 978-981-18-7699-8 (digital)

Subject(s): LCSH: Asia-Europe Foundation. | Asia--Relations--Europe. | Europe--Relations--Asia.

Classification: DDC 303.482405--dc23

The Future of Asia-Europe Cooperation

ASEF's 25th Anniversary Logo

The Future of Asia-Europe Cooperation

ASEF’s 25th Anniversary logo draws inspiration from the complex puzzle of different cultures, languages, thinking, history, educational and governance approaches across Asia and Europe. The pieces of the puzzle, represented in four different colours, highlight the intentional coming together of Asia and Europe for a common purpose, while preserving their individuality. Above all, it represents equally beneficial cooperation. The logo is composed of three different elements.

At the top, the focus is placed on the timeline during which ASEF has made a continual effort to bring Asia and Europe together.

At the centre, the focus is placed on the numbers 2 and 5. The numbers highlight the years ASEF has worked as an interface between Asia and Europe, advancing mutual understanding and cooperation. Each continent is represented in a number and coloured with the ASEF primary and secondary palettes accordingly. The blue and yellow in number 2 represent the European continent while the red and green in number 5 represent the Asian continent. These colours mirror ASEF’s logo and spirit.

At the bottom, the tagline Bringing Asia and Europe Together highlights ASEF’s key mission in the past, present, and future. It is the motto that drives all ASEF actions.

Combined, these elements portray the idea of Asians and Europeans coming together to build a common future. The 25th Anniversary logo should be used in conjunction with the ASEF logo, always and without fail, which is on the right occupying a dominant and permanent position. This juxtapositioning with a smaller size suggests movement, dynamism, and room for growth into the future.

The 25th Anniversary logo echoes the logo of ASEM’s 25th Anniversary in 2021, hence acknowledging the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Process.

Contents

About ASEF

Message from the Executive Director

Foreword

Essays

*Cat.Australia

(II)Bryan Chang Pokiton

Bangladesh

(II)Md Shahriar Azad Evan

(II)Zadid Al Lisan

Belgium

(I)Ajar Bentaha

(II)Ergys Brocaj

China

(I)Tao Yang

Cyprus

(I)Antonis Stylianou

Czech Republic

(I)Martin Hammerbauer

France

(II)Mahrus Harnadi-Froment

(II)Thibault Ferrier

Germany

(I)Antonia Maria Linder

India

(I)Anirban Das

(I)Arpita Das

(I)Mudrika Mathur

(I)Parimita Krishna

Indonesia

(I)Muhammad Mutawallie Sya’rawie

(II)Eka Wahyu Murtiningtyas

(II)Felice Valeria Thessalonica

(II)Hree Dharma Santhi Putri Samudra

(II)Muhammad Anugrah Utama

(II)Naletha Geesyelady Estevina Pangemanan

(II)Sachi Hongo

Kazakhstan

(II)Kadyrova Elina

Lithuania

(I)Julija Loginovich

Malaysia

(I)Zebine Nissa Binti Sarfraz

(II)Ng Yu Xuan

Myanmar

(I)Shwe Zin Thin

(II)Pan Pan

Pakistan

(I)Rohit Kumar

(I)Uzair Ahmad

(II)Minahil Saleem

Philippines

(I)Alessandra R. Pantanosas

(I)Eduardo Samuel Aduna

(I)Gab Billones

(I)Julian Thomas B. Alvarez

(I)Stacey Nicole M. Bellido

(II)Gener V. Orencia

(II)Gerald John Guillermo

(II)Germaine Grace L. Meñez

(II)Ivan Harris Tanyag

(II)John Florentino Perez

(II)Ralph Stephen M. Leyeza

(II)Shaharaj Ahmed

Poland

(I)Malwina A. Tkacz

Portugal

(I)Jorge Gonçalo Lisboa de Carvalho Alexandre

(I)Ricardo Freitas Rodrigues

Romania

(I)David Timis

Singapore

(I)Kwang Aik Eldrick Cheong

(I)Lee Kun Da Daniel

(I)Liam Hoo

(II)Kah Yat Jerren Gan

(II)Sakthisolai Saravanan

(II)Tan Enn Syn, Shona

(II)Teo An Rae

(II)Vernice Tan

(II)Mak Wei Jie Alvern

(II)Gan Xin Chen

(II)Chua Yi Lin

(II)Tan Yu Shuang

Spain

(I)Arturo Cosano Ramos

(II)Sofía Puertas Borreguero

Thailand

(I)Phasawit Jutatungcharoen (John)

(II)Pichaya Neeranadpuree

United Kingdom

(I)Babatunde Onabajo

Vietnam

(I)Hoang Mi

(II)Giao Truong

(II)Trang Mai Nguyen

(II)Xuan, Le Nguyen Hong

Glossary

ASEM InfoBoard

*Category I (25 years old and above)

*Category II (below ²⁵ years old)

Message from the Executive Director

On 15 February 1997, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) was established based on the agreement of the 26 founding members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Singapore. Today, ASEF’s membership has more than doubled to 51 Asian and European countries, together with the EU and ASEAN Secretariat. ASEM remains the sole permanent institution of ASEM, a dialogue process involving senior officials, ministers and leaders.

As Executive Director, I am overjoyed that ASEF passed a significant milestone by marking its Silver Jubilee last year. I am further delighted at the positive response to the first-ever ASEF Essay Competition organised as part of ASEF’s year-long 25th anniversary commemoration. We received well over 120 entries in just 2 months, and coming from 26 countries. This is testimony to the continuing great interest in ASEF and the work we are doing. The essay competition has clearly shown that there is great intellectual vibrancy in both regions.

The purpose of ASEF is to promote better understanding between Asia and Europe through greater intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The essay competition provided a good platform to touch base with the very people who are at the heart of closer Asia-Europe relations. There is certainly no shortage of ideas coming from both Asians and Europeans making their voices heard through their essays.

I feel strongly that it is important to have ideas from Asia and Europe. We are entering the era where Asians and Europeans work together for the betterment of the world. There is so much to do. ASEF is committed to playing its role in enhancing the dialogue and cooperation between the two regions so that Asians and Europeans address global challenges shoulder to shoulder as peers.

The ecosystem that ASEF has been operating in has changed substantially over the last quarter century. Countries around the world are facing increasingly more challenging issues such as energy and food security, and climate change.

I hope you will enjoy this collection of essays. And I hope it will also inspire you to reflect further on how Asia and Europe could work closer together, and to share your ideas with us at ASEF!

Ambassador MORIKAWA Toru

Japan

2023

Foreword

ASEF entered its 25th anniversary year on 15 February 2022 in rather inauspicious circumstances. COVID-19 continued to linger. Its longer-term impact was only beginning to manifest. While some supply chain problems could be resolved quickly, the increased inequalities and distrust sowed by the pandemic would hinder global cooperation for longer. Though COVID-19 prevented face-to-face meetings necessary for building mutual trust, it could not be blamed for the rising geopolitical tensions. The world has become more divided, both between and within countries. While this suggests a bigger role for ASEF, it also has potential downsides for ASEF. For one, the post-Cold War peace dividend was dwindling. More countries were turning inwards. Their domestic politics were becoming more contentious. Treasuries worldwide have to spend their tight resources on domestic priorities, rather than contribute towards a global good. Most economies were no longer growing as fast. Globalisation was retreating. Interdependent economies were decoupling or derisking. Collective action to deal with wicked problems like climate change was falling short. There were growing insecurities around the world. It was not the best of times to celebrate ASEF’s 25th anniversary.

It was in this context that ASEF decided, as part of its 25th anniversary celebration, to pose a challenge to believers in international cooperation between Asia and Europe. We invited them to participate in an essay competition on the theme: The Future of Asia-Europe Cooperation. We wanted to hear the views of two generations, perhaps somewhat artificially divided into those born before ASEF was established and those after. Set up in 1997 by the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), ASEF can be said to be the product of liberal internationalism. ASEM was an informal process. It was open to all Asian and European countries and international organisations. There were no membership fees. Cooperation between Asia and Europe would be voluntary. ASEF was not set up as a secretariat. It was entrusted with this vision: A world in which Asians and Europeans shape the future together – respectfully, fairly, and sustainably and this mission: To complement the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Process through opportunities for Asians and Europeans to exchange ideas and collaborate, to achieve innovative and sustainable solutions for common global challenges. ASEF is probably premised on the death of realpolitik (the end of history). In the late 80’s, the world was turning a new page as the last vestiges of imperialism and command economies were disappearing. Heading into the 90’s, there was optimism everywhere. It appeared opportune, even inevitable, that ASEM and ASEF would be founded to bring Asia and Europe closer. International relations henceforth will be based on altruism and idealism, rather than the usual calculation of narrow self-interests of nation states. In 25 years, ASEM and ASEF’s membership grew from 26 to 53.

Twenty-five years later, as the world retreats back into geopolitical tensions, it is time for ASEF to reflect on its role and perhaps reinvent itself. Some of the fundamental questions for its raison d’etre include: What is the future of ASEM? What can ASEM countries expect of ASEF in the light of their commitment and funding? What do ASEM citizens expect of ASEM and hence ASEF? Can ASEF cut the apron strings connecting it to ASEM? Participants ranging from 13 to 71 years of age appreciated the work done and constraints faced by ASEF in the last 25 years. Some wanted more of the same. Others suggested new approaches. Most understood the strategic rationale of closer Asia-Europe relations. Some assume the primacy of liberal internationalism, others presume a return to realism, but most are simply looking for ways to connect the two regions. As editors, we had a hard time deciding which essays to include in this publication. We wanted to include as many entries from as many countries as possible to give readers a sense of the richness of what ASEM citizens have to say. We also had to take into account the number of essays submitted from a country. Finally, we were guided by objective criteria such as relevance, good writing, appropriate understanding of ASEM and ASEF, and new ideas. This collection is assembled in the spirit of self-examination by ASEM citizens. They do not represent any country, much less ASEF. It is published in the spirit of a dialogue, between Asia and Europe, and amongst Asians and Europeans.

Allow us to mention the issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and more specifically ChatGPT. We cannot be sure that AI was not used in some of the essays in this volume. It was not yet obvious when we launched the essay competition that ChatGPT could write entire essays better than what most humans could produce. Though our rules did not explicitly forbid the use of AI, it was clear that essays have to be original and written by the participants. But as entries rolled in, we found it was impossible to differentiate with 100% confidence between essays written by humans and those written by computers, especially if AI was only consulted or partly involved. We have worked into the judging criteria factors like factual accuracy and future vision into the judging criteria to minimise the role of generative ChatGPT. And from the winners, we have received their undertaking that their essays were not written with the help of AI.

It remains for us to thank all the people who contributed to the success of this first-ever Essay Competition organised by ASEF: all my colleagues at ASEF who contributed their ideas and helped us reach out to more participants, especially Executive Director Ambassador Morikawa Toru, Director Preeti Gaonkar of Operations and Director Reka Tozsa of the Education Department ; all participants for their essays and understanding for the outcome; and last but not least, the Judging Panel drawn from ASEF Governors Ms Angela ROBINSON of Australia; H.E. Ambassador Michaela FROŇKOVÁ of the Czech Republic; H.E. Ambassador Antti VÄNSKÄ of Finland; H.E. Ambassador Judit PACH of Hungary; Ms Maeve GALLAGHER of Ireland; Professor Inna ŠTEINBUKA of Latvia; H.E. High Commissioner Clifford BORG-MARKS of Malta; H.E. Ambassador Eivind S. Homme of Norway; H.E. Ambassador Mário Miranda DUARTE of Portugal; Professor Prof Leo TAN Wee Hin of Singapore; Ambassador Denisa Frelichová of Slovakia; H.E. Ambassador Frank GRÜTTER of Switzerland; Dr Darmp SUKONTASAP of Thailand, and the ASEF Executive Director.

I hope that you would enjoy reading this collection of essays as much as we have in bringing it to you. In the spirit of dialogue, may the essays spark conversations amongst Asians and Europeans, between the ASEM publics and ASEF, between ASEM citizens and ASEM officials, between ASEM voters and ASEF Governors, and between Governors and ASEF staff, with a constructive outcome to bring ASEF and ASEM forward, and the people of Asia and Europe closer.

CHUA Thai Keong

Director of Communications Department of ASEF

Essays

Bryan Chang Pokiton

AUSTRALIA

As the world continues to become more interconnected, the future of Asia-Europe cooperation is of paramount importance. With two of the world's most powerful regions coming together, what will this mean for global politics and economics?

The future of Asia-Europe cooperation is a topic of great importance in the current global context. With the rise of China and India as major economic powers, and the increasing interconnectedness of the world, it is essential that Asia and Europe work together to ensure mutual prosperity. This essay will explore the potential for increased cooperation between Asia and Europe in terms of trade, investment, technology transfer, and security. It will also discuss some of the challenges that may arise in this process.

Trade has long been an important part of the relationship between Asia and Europe. In recent years, however, this trade has become increasingly complex due to the emergence of new markets such as China and India. As a result, there is a need for increased cooperation between Asian and European countries in order to ensure that both sides benefit from this increased complexity. This could include initiatives such as free trade agreements or preferential trading arrangements that would allow for greater access to each other’s markets. Additionally, there is potential for increased investment from both sides in order to facilitate further economic growth.

Technology transfer is another area where increased cooperation between Asia and Europe could be beneficial. By sharing knowledge and expertise with each other, both sides can benefit from technological advances that can help them remain competitive in a globalised economy. This could include initiatives such as joint research projects or collaborations on new technologies that could be used by both sides. Additionally, there is potential for increased collaboration on issues such as energy efficiency or renewable energy sources which could help reduce emissions while also providing economic benefits to both sides.

Security is another area where increased cooperation between Asia and Europe could be beneficial. With increasing tensions in many parts of the world, it is essential that both sides work together to ensure peace and stability in their respective regions. This could include initiatives such as joint military exercises or intelligence sharing agreements which would allow both sides to better respond to threats or crises when they arise. Additionally, there is potential for increased collaboration on issues such as cybersecurity which could help protect against malicious actors who seek to exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems or networks.

Despite these potential benefits of increased cooperation between Asia and Europe, there are also some challenges that must be addressed if this process is going to be successful. One challenge relates to cultural differences which can make it difficult for both sides to understand each other’s perspectives on certain issues or topics. Additionally, there are political differences between many Asian countries which can make it difficult for them to cooperate with each other on certain matters even if they have similar interests at heart.

Finally, there are economic disparities between many Asian countries which can make it difficult for them to benefit equally from any initiatives taken by either side due to their different levels of development or resources available at their disposal.

In conclusion, while there are some challenges associated with increased cooperation between Asia and Europe, there are also numerous potential benefits that should not be overlooked when considering this topic. By working together more closely on issues such as trade, investment technology transfer and security both sides can benefit from improved relations while also helping ensure mutual prosperity into the future.

Md Shahriar Azad Evan

BANGLADESH

A couple of weeks ago while scrolling on Facebook, a post grabbed my attention. The post was about the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), and I was immediately drawn to learning more about the foundation's activities, its contributions to society, and its future prospects. As a volunteer, I am always keen and seeking out organisations that are constantly contributing to society in any area, and ASEF seems like one of the perfect organisations to explore.

As I tried to dig deeper into ASEF's purpose, it turned out that the foundation serves as a bridge between Asia and Europe, connecting artists, cultural professionals, arts organisations, public institutions, networks, and museums from both regions. As I found out, ASEF's mission is to promote cultural cooperation by fostering relationships and building a community that values and celebrates diversity. Its vision of a world in which Asians and Europeans shape the future together—respectfully, fairly, and sustainably—resonated with me deeply. It is a powerful statement that encapsulates the foundation's commitment to building strong and lasting relationships between the two regions, and the importance of working together to address global challenges. Independent thought is a critical element of ASEF's mission. The foundation provides a platform for artists and cultural professionals from different backgrounds to come together and share their ideas on the future of cultural cooperation between Asia and Europe. These ideas are then analysed and discussed, leading to a better understanding of the issues at hand and how to address them.

I also discovered that ASEF's commitment to knowledge-sharing and learning is also evident in its contributions to education. The foundation provides a platform for artists and cultural professionals to access knowledge and information, enabling them to build better and more prosperous societies. This is particularly important in the arts, where creativity and innovation are essential for the growth of the industry. Clear reasoning and critical analysis are the foundation stones of ASEF's success. The foundation recognises that global challenges such as climate change, economic disparity, and political instability require a joint effort to address. ASEF's role is to facilitate dialogue between nations and communities, leading to better understanding and cooperation. Finally, I think that ASEF's persuasive style is what makes it stand out from other organisations. The foundation is not just focused on promoting cultural cooperation, but also on building stronger relationships between Asia and Europe. It achieves this by fostering cultural exchange and creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect with each other.

In a nutshell, the Asia-Europe Foundation is a vital organisation that promotes independent thought, critical analysis, clear reasoning, and persuasive style. Its contributions to promoting cultural cooperation, education, and the resolution of global challenges are noteworthy. The foundation's future prospects are bright, and I believe that it will continue to play a critical role in building stronger relationships between Asia and Europe.

Zadid Al Lisan

BANGLADESH

The two mountains, Ural and Caucasus, are enormous, but not large enough to separate the Eurasian bond. Asia and Europe can still be considered as an undivided portion in the world map. Mutual partnership between these two continents can create immense opportunities in cultural, economical, educational and technological advancement. In the past few decades, we saw many successful collaborations between Asia and Europe and the future seems more