ASEF welcomed Austrian Ambassador to Singapore, HE Mr Peter STORER, to the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) on 23 April 2026. The meeting provided an opportunity to present ASEF’s work and to exchange views with Ambassador STORER on ongoing and upcoming areas of cooperation to further strengthen Asia-Europe relations. On 13 April 2026, Executive Director (ED) Ambassador Beata STOCZYŃSKA and Deputy ED Mr ZHANG Lei met Ambassador Tommy KOH and Director-General for Europe, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr LOW Hon Mun. Their discussions centred on preparations for ASEF’s 30th anniversary next year, a key milestone of Asia-Europe cooperation.
2. The 8th Edition of the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival in Utrecht, the Netherlands
From 14 to 23 May 2026, the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival will be in Utrecht for its Main Programme, featuring a diverse array of artistic offerings emerging from cross-cultural collaborations between artists from Asia and Europe. With contemporary dance, film, art installation, theatre and the innaugural AECFest CAMP, the Festival returns as an ever-growing platform fostering cultural diplomacy.
3. Join the "Science Diplomacy Education Symposium" and learn about Science Diplomacy in higher education
ASEF invites educators, university lecturers, academic leaders, researchers and practitioners across disciplines interested inexploring the relevance of science diplomacy within teaching andacademic contexts to join the "Science Diplomacy Education Symposium" on 20 May 2026. The symposium aims to strengthen the capacity of educators and institutions and help them build the next generation of science diplomats.
4. ASEFNextEd1 officially begins at the University of Cambridge, UK
ASEF officially launched the first Asia-Europe Education Next Fellowship (ASEFNextEd1) from 27 to 30 April 2026 at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in partnership with the Digital Education Futures Initiative, Hughes Hall. Bringing together eight Fellowship Leaders from Asia and Europe, the Fellowship explores “Re-thinking Intelligence: The Future of Teacher Education", generating insights and whitepapers on the future of teacher education to inform policy and practice.
5. ASEFInnoLab7 Coordinators’ Meeting and Shanghai Forum 2026
ASEFInnoLab7 advanced in China with a successful Coordinators’ Meeting at Fudan University from 21 to 26 April 2026. Hosted alongside the Shanghai Forum 2026, the meeting convened coordinators of the White Paper Lab to refine topics, explore synergies and prepare for the next phase. ASEF also contributed to the Shanghai Forum’s session on “The Role of Universities in Promoting AI for Good”, featuring insights from experts across Asia and Europe. The exchanges sharpened the programme’s focus on how universities can advance AI for global good, public interest and institutional excellence.
On 16 April 2026, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory at the Regional Health Inspectorate in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, was officially opened under ASEF’s Stockpile Project. Supported by the Government of Japan and implemented by WHO/Europe, the project aims to strengthen preparedness and response to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in Bulgaria.
Closing Ceremony and Iftar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
On 13 March 2026, the Stockpile Project Closing Ceremony and Iftar took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking the completion of the project’s activities in the country. Co-hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), approximately RM6.6 million worth of medical equipment was procured to strengthen health preparedness and response in Malaysia.
7. Insights from ASEF culture360's "Tradition in Transition" webinar
ASEF Culture in collaboration with UNESCO Jakarta, hosted a webinar on 8 April 2026, exploring pathways and conditions for the traditional performing arts in Southeast Asia to thrive and grow. Joined online by over 80 participants across Asia and Europe, the webinar fostered discussions on innovative formats and a fairer and more equitable ecosystem for the sector.
8. Reflections from Yogyakarta: AI, Human Rights and Inclusive Governance
What does it really mean to put people first in AI? That was the question at the heart of the Yogyakarta Capacity-Building Programme, held from 30 March to 1 April 2026, which brought 26 early-career leaders from 21 countries together over three days. Drawing on perspectives from across Asia and Europe, participants dug into the challenges of AI governance and what it looks like when human rights guide the way.
9. 15th ASEF Journalists Seminar (ASEFJS15): Journalistic Resilience in a Volatile World
The 15th ASEF Journalists Seminar (ASEFJS15) will be held from 14 to 17 September 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme "Journalistic Resilience in a Volatile World". Journalists below 35-years-old from ASEM member countries are invited to apply for this training, which will gather media professionals from Asia and Europe to exchange insights, strengthen skills and explore how journalists can stay resilient amid today’s fast-changing global challenges. The deadline for application is 31 May 2026.
ASEF is pleased to highlight a year marked by impactful projects and partnerships, including 50 cultural events with more than 30 partners, over 2,000 participants engaged in educational and capacity-building activities, a dedicated workshop for environmental journalists, as well as facilitating cooperation in public health, promoting dialogue on public diplomacy and human rights and participation in international forums and over 30 bilateral consultations. The overview reflects the scale and diversity of ASEF’s work while advancing priorities in digitalisation and sustainability in 2025.
The Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship comes at a crucial moment for regional and global cooperation. This podcast explores its priorities on peace and security, prosperity and people empowerment, as well as the state of ASEAN-EU relations and the future of Asia-Europe cooperation.
As multilateral institutions face growing pressure, this month’s topic reflects on why working together still matters. Multilateralism remains an important way for countries to keep dialogue open, manage differences and explore practical cooperation. Read more on ASEM InfoBoard.
Human Rights and AI: 23rd Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights
The publication from the 23rd Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights - themed around Human Rights and Artificial Intelligence - is now available. Bringing together perspectives from across Asia and Europe, the Seminar explored how AI governance frameworks can be grounded in human rights principles, and what this means for communities navigating an increasingly digital world.
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