The ASEM Day 2023 was organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with Parahyangan Catholic University (UNPAR) and the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF), to pushes for people-to-people exchange between Asia and Europe.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia is calling for more people-to-people exchange within the framework of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) to respond to increasing global geopolitical pressures, the Director of American and European Intra-regional and Inter-regional Cooperation at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nidya Kartikasari, said at the ASEM Day 2023 seminar.

The ASEM Day 2023 seminar under the theme 'Reigniting ASEM: the Future of Asia and Europe from Asia's Perspective' was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with Parahyangan Catholic University (UNPAR) and Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF), in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday (8/3).

The tension in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has greatly affected cooperation in intergovernmental forums, including ASEM, Nidya noted, adding that, in response to this, there needs to be a breakthrough in the second track diplomacy that involves the public at large, so that inter-regional connectivity does not stop.

This is where the important role of the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF), as an organization under the auspices of ASEM, is mandated to encourage people-to-people exchange in Asia and Europe, she said.

Among ASEF's flagship activities are the Asian-European Cultural Festival and the ASEF Young Leaders Summit, an inter-regional forum that aims to produce visionary young leaders.

"The activity is open and can be used by the public at large, including students, academics and youths," Nidya explained.

ASEM Day which is celebrated every March is an effort by member countries to increase ASEM's visibility in society.

Among other regional organizations, ASEM's existence is not widely known to the public, in fact, the forum is the only organization at the head of state level that connects the Asian and European regions.

As in previous years, the holding of the ASEM Day seminar always received enthusiastic response from the public, especially students, academics and observers of international relations. More than 200 people attended the event which was held online and offline.

Initially ASEM consisted of 26 countries, and then continued to grow to 51 countries, plus the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union.

Reporting by Indonesia Window