Message from Ambassador Delfín Colomé
"I congratulate the ASEF University Alumni Network (ASEFUAN) on the launch of its website. Since its establishment in February 1997, the Asia-Europe Foundation has launched several initiatives to realise its mission of creating better mutual understanding between the peoples of Asia and Europe through greater intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The ASEF University Programme is indeed a jewel in our crown.
Since the first ASEF University was held in Germany in 1998, more than 250 university students, selected for their academic achievements and leadership qualities, from 25 Asian and European countries have benefited from this enrichment programme. The ASEF University has since evolved into a high-level and high-quality programme with a strong intellectual and academic focus, particularly in the fields of international relations, strategic studies, humanities and social sciences.
During the two-week programme, which is organised in collaboration with different prestigious universities and institutions in venues alternating between Asia and Europe, participants are placed in a unique multi-cultural environment to learn about the historical, cultural, social and political developments in Asia and Europe and issues that would affect relations between Asia and Europe. The interactive programme allows students from the two regions to exchange perceptions and perspectives on a variety of issues, learning thereby where their views diverge and converge, and why.
In a globalising world of disappearing boundaries, almost instantaneous communications and increasing inter-dependence, there is a greater potential for frictions as a result of lack of mutual understanding among the different cultures and civilisations. In this context, the ASEF University Programme is an important contribution to efforts to build bridges between Asia and Europe - two of the world's most dynamic and important regions in which several major cultures and civilisations are represented. It is right that we invest efforts to inculcate in students and youth of Asia and Europe a greater awareness of and sensitivity to diversity.
Through the ASEF University Programme, the Asia-Europe Foundation hopes to seed the development of a strong network of friendships among a core of students of Asia and Europe, who will in the near future emerge as leaders in the two regions in different sectors and fields. In this regard, the establishment of ASEFUAN in April 2002 was indeed a significant milestone. Through its activities, I have every confidence that ASEFUAN will play a vital role in nurturing the seeds of the network planted in during the ASEF University.
I would therefore like to wish ASEFUAN the very best for its present and future undertakings. The Asia-Europe Foundation stands ready to provide ASEFUAN with the necessary support in achieving its aims and objectives."
Ambassador Delfín Colomé was Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation from 2000 to 2004.