21 November 2013 - Philippine Sensor Foreign Affairs Adviser and Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo, in her capacity as Governor for the Philippines, led the 51-strong member Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) during its 30th Board of Governors meeting at the Orchard Hotel Singapore where various issues were discussed including membership enlargement and strengthening partnerships toward greater mutual understanding between Asia and Europe.
The Governors from the two regions' member states and the European Union underlined the immense strides ASEF has made since its birth in 1997, reaching out to a wider audience in both regions and facilitating cooperation between their governments.
“ASEF has substantially contributed to the development of the ASEM process (Asia Europe Meeting) particularly in enhancing civil society participation and people-to-people exchanges between these two regions. This significant role of ASEF was recognized in the recently held 11th Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi, India”, remarked Ambassador Manalo who chaired the ASEF Board of Governors meeting. She was elected unanimously last year as Chair of the Board of Governors and holds the distinct honor of being the first female Chair from Asia.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Manalo challenged the Governors, comprised of high-level officials and Ambassadors from Asia and Europe, to further strengthen ASEF’s role in fostering partnerships between and within these two regions aimed to bring them even closer together.
The Philippine official also thanked the Asian and European governments and NGOs who extended humanitarian assistance to the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Prior to the Governors' meeting, Ambassador Manalo chaired the Executive Committee meeting and participated in the Financial and Audit Committee discussions whose recommendations were endorsed to the Board of Governors.
ASEF advances mutual understanding and collaboration between the people of Asia and Europe by acting as an interface between civil society on one hand, and Asian and European governments on the other, thus contributing to the ASEM process.
ASEF was established in February 1997 by ASEM partners and remains to this day the only established institution of ASEM. Although based in Singapore, ASEF operates in all ASEM countries. ASEF is funded by contributions from member states.
Since its inception, ASEF has initiated various sectoral and thematic projects participated in by over 17,000 individuals and experts from Asia and Europe. END
