ASIATODAY.ID, BALI – Indonesia is hosting the 45th Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting which will take place in Bali, on 8-13 July 2024.
This meeting was attended by more than 50 Governors representing ASEF member countries in Asia and Europe to review the strategy, programs, budget and management of ASEF as the only official institution under the auspices of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM).
In this series of meetings, the Nominating Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Executive Committee, and the top meeting, namely the Board of Governors Meeting, were held. At the end of the event, it closed with a field visit that showcased Indonesia’s natural wealth and conservation successes.
As host, Indonesia showed its leadership in strengthening dialogue and cooperation between regions amidst an uncertain geopolitical situation. In the previous year, the 44th ASEF BOG Meeting was held in Barcelona, Spain in July 2023.
The series of meetings were led by ASEF Executive Director, Ambassador Toru Morikawa (Japan) and succeeded in agreeing on strategic steps for ASEF’s future growth, both in terms of work programs, Human Resources management, financial management and legal framework.
The Governor of Bangladesh, Rais Hasan Sarower, acted as Chair at the 45th BOG Meeting, while Indonesia was represented by Ambassador Soemadi Brotodiningrat who was also Chair at the FAC Meeting.
One of the important results of this meeting is the thematic work program plan for 2025, which invites the participation of relevant stakeholders in Asia and Europe, as well as strengthening dialogue, cooperation and partnerships between the two regions.
The 45th ASEF BOG Meeting also served as momentum for the election of the new ASEF Executive Director, in line with the end of Ambassador Toru Morikawa’s assignment at the end of August 2024.
The newly elected ASEF Executive Director is Mrs. Beata Stoczynska (Poland) and Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Zhang Lei (China). Both officials will begin their assignments in September 2024.
“We express our appreciation to Indonesia for holding the 45th ASEF BOG Meeting,” said Executive Director Morikawa in his remarks at the opening of the meeting.
Indonesia welcomed the delegates with hospitality through a Welcoming Reception hosted by the Director General of America and Europe, Ambassador Umar Hadi, and a Gala Dinner hosted by the Governor of Indonesia for ASEF, Ambassador Soemadi Brotodiningrat.
“In the midst of the current geopolitical situation, dialogue, solidarity and cooperation between Asia and Europe are very important. “It is hoped that ASEF can continue to contribute to strengthening these things,” said Umar.
In line with that, the Governor of Indonesia for ASEF also said “The good impact of the Asian and European partnership facilitated by ASEF must continue.”
As part of the ASEF BOG Meeting tradition, on the last day a field visit was held in the form of a conservation retreat, consisting of releasing hatchlings on the beach of The Laguna Resort and Spa and handing over mangrove seedlings at the Ngurah Rai Community Forest Park. Apart from introducing Bali tourism, this retreat is also intended to show Indonesia’s progress in nature conservation and sustainable development.
This retreat was carried out with the support of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Center, the Unda Anyar River Watershed Management Center, and Mangrove Rangers.
ASEF is an organization under the auspices of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM), which is an organization whose members are 30 European countries, 21 Asian countries (including Indonesia), the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat. Every year, ASEF initiates various innovative activities that strengthen partnerships between Asia and Europe in various fields.
ASEF management is carried out by the ASEF Executive Office which is headquartered in Singapore. In Indonesia, Indonesia’s membership in ASEF is managed by the Directorate of American and European Intraregional and Interregional Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (AT Network)
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