On February 3rd 2022, the Romanian Institute for Europe-Asia Studies (IRSEA) held a virtual meeting with the ASEAN Foundation, one of the institute’s oldest partners, since 2008.
ASEAN Foundation was represented by Dr. Yang Mee Eng(Executive Director), Mr. Mahmudi Yusbi(Head of Programme), Ms. Tia Rahmi Fitriasari(HR & Alumni Officer) and Ms. Ayu Pratiwi(Digital Communication Officer).
On behalf of the IRSEA, H.E. Ambassador (p) Gheorghe Savuica(President & Founder) conducted the talks and was seconded by the Institute’s Programmes Director.
The two parties stressed the importance of further strengthening the existing cooperation, recalling the benefits of emerging digital communication instruments as a convenient form of cooperation, in the light of the pandemic-related restrictions. After each institution briefly introduced its main activities and programmes, the participants agreed over organising a second round of discussions, at technical level, in order to discuss pragmatic aspects of bilateral cooperation.
The two leaders have also agreed to renew their already existing cooperation agreement in order to reaffirm the importance of continuously raising awareness on Europe-Asia cooperation, in general, and the importance of ASEAN as a successful model of regional cooperation, in particular.
The ASEAN leaders established the ASEAN Foundation during the ASEAN 30th Anniversary Commemorative Summit in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on 15 December 1997.
As one of ASEAN’s bodies, the ASEAN Foundation is tasked to support ASEAN mainly in promoting awareness, identity, interaction and development of the people of ASEAN, as a strategic instrument to achieve ASEAN’s goal.
Since the formation of ASEAN in 1967, ASEAN has gone on a long journey to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. The ASEAN Foundation has been an integral part of this mission for the last two decades.
To learn more about how ASEAN Foundation supports the ASEAN Community Building Process, download the ASEAN Foundation presentation here.