Asia-Europe Conference 2017 Programme

Opening Ceremony

Opening Remarks
Prof Azirah Hashim - Executive Director, Asia-Europe Institute & Director, Centre for ASEAN Regionalism, University of Malaya
H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez - Ambassador & Head of the European Union Delegation to Malaysia

The Geo-Strategic Dynamics of Asia

Moderator
Tan Sri Razali Ismail - Senior Advisor, Asia-Europe Institute, Malaysia

Keynote Speaker
Dr Marty Natalegawa - Former Foreign Minister of Indonesia

Keynote Respondent
H.E. Karsten Warnecke - Ambassador, Executive Director, Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), Singapore

Asian-European Regionalism in Comparative Perspective

Does comparing Asian and European regionalism help us to understand the challenges these regional entities experience? Are there signs that multilateralism is approaching its limits? How much can Asian and European regionalist endeavours learn from one another? Is it possible to make an assessment as to which regionalism is more effective – EU or ASEAN? The two relatively successful regional integration organizations, of course, have chosen different approaches – and both face serious challenges.

Chairs
Dr Evi Fitriani - Head of the Miriam Budiardjo Resource Centre (MBRG), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia
Prof Anthony Milner - Visiting Professor, Asia-Europe Institute, Malaysia

Panelists
Dr David Camroux - Senior Researcher, Centre de Recherchés Internationales, Science Po, Paris
Prof Thomas Christiansen - Jean-Monnet Chair, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
H.E. Makio Miyagawa - Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia
Dr Yeo Lay Hwee - Director, EU Centre in Singapore

Future Opportunities for ASEAN-EU Relations

Moderator
Dato’ M. Redzuan Kushairi - Senior Advisor, Asia-Europe Institute, Malaysia

Keynote Speaker
H.E. Dr Surin Pitsuwan - Former Foreign Minister of Thailand and former ASEAN Secretary-General

Keynote Respondent
H.E. Maria Castillo Fernandez - Ambassador & Head of the European Union Delegation to Malaysia

Assessing Soft Power: Which Initiatives Shape Values and Forge Relationships?

The term ‘soft power’ has often been associated with the American pop-culture, and lately with the popular culture of Korea. There is confusion, however, about what is meant by ‘soft power’ – and some societies understand it differently from others. For instance, should China’s Belt and Road Initiative be understood to be ‘soft power’? Also, should we see ‘soft power’ as a critical ingredient in the development of regionalism in Europe and Asia, helping to promote integration? In the current international situation influences of many types are helping to shape values and forge relationships. Which specific initiatives do most to achieve these ends?

Chair
Dr Roy Anthony Rogers - Head, Department of International and Strategic Studies (JPAS), University of Malaya

Panelists
Dr Paul Gillespie - Former Foreign Policy Editor for The Irish Times and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe), University College Dublin, Ireland
Prof Tamio Nakamura - Faculty of Law, Waseda University, Japan
Assoc Prof Kuik Cheng Chwee - Strategic Studies and International Relations Program, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

What Should Be the Real Priority for Both Regions and for Inter-Regional Cooperation?

Moderator
H.E. Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin - Deputy Secretary General, Department of Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia

Keynote Speaker
H.E. Francisco Fontan Pardo - Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to ASEAN

Keynote Respondent
Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan - Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia

The Current Geo-Strategic Case for Closer Asia-Europe Engagement

Moderator
Prof Sebastian Bersick - Jean-Monnet Chair & Chair, International Political Economy of East Asia, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Department of East Asian Studies, Germany

Keynote Speaker
Prof Kishore Mahbubani - Dean, and Professor in the Practice of Public Policy, at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore

Keynote Respondent
Dr Paul Gillespie - Former Foreign Policy Editor for The Irish Times and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe), University College Dublin, Ireland

Regional Institutions Handling Current Challenges: Learning From One Another

The management of ethnic, religious and cultural diversities is a key part of nation-building, including in many Southeast Asian countries. In Europe we tend to see an individual rights-based approach towards minority communities, though policies differ among European countries. In some there is a liberal multicultural approach, in others a more assimilationist approach. Migration and the rise of identity politics has tested current European policy making – and also posed increased challenges for Southeast Asian societies. What can governments in Southeast Asia and Europe do to address the challenges of building inclusive societies in the face of increasing sociocultural fragmentation, political polarization and religious radicalism?

Chair
Prof Jacqueline Lo - Professor and Executive Director of the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University, Canberra

Panelists
Prof Jens Allwood - Head of SCCIIL (SSKKII) Interdisciplinary Center, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Prof Christian Joppke - Institute of Sociology, University of Bern, Switzerland
Prof Kim Nam-Kook - Jean-Monnet Chair & Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Korea University, Seoul
Prof Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin - Director, Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Economic Regionalism: Economic Nationalism and Other Challenges

The economies of the 21st century are entering a new stage of digitalization – Industry 4.0 – which will add to the momentum of globalization. Although globalization is affirmed by policy makers through free trade agreements, the developments of the last 12 months have deeply damaged the prospects for a world of free trade. In this context there may be a new opportunity for Asia and Europe to advocate free trade and make this the basis of a renewed partnership

Chair
Mr Sholto Byrnes - Senior Fellow, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia

Panelists
Prof Sebastian Bersick - Jean-Monnet Chair & Chair, International Political Economy of East Asia, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Department of East Asian Studies, Germany
Prof Park Sung-Hoon - Professor in Economics & Jean-Monnet Chair, Korea University, Seoul
Prof Tham Siew Yean - Adjunct Professor, Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
Prof Zha Daojiong - Professor of International Political Economy at the School of International Studies, Peking University, China

Closing Discussion & Remarks

Chair
Prof Anthony Milner - Visiting Professor, Asia-Europe Institute, Malaysia
Prof Azirah Hashim - Executive Director, Asia-Europe Institute & Director, Centre for ASEAN Regionalism University of Malaya

Discussants
Dr David Camroux - Senior Researcher, Centre de Recherchés Internationales, Science Po, Paris
Prof. Christian Joppke - Institute of Sociology, University of Bern, Switzerland
Dr Roy Anthony Rogers - Head, Department of International and Strategic Studies (JPAS), University of Malaya
Dr Yeo Lay Hwee - Director, EU Centre in Singapore
Prof. Zha Daojiong - Professor of International Political Economy at the School of International Studies, Peking University, China

Closing Remarks
Dr Yeo Lay Hwee - Director, EU Centre in Singapore
Prof Azirah Hashim - Executive Director, Asia-Europe Institute & Director, Centre for ASEAN Regionalism University of Malaya